Activity 6: Real World Collaboration

Judging from the analyses that I did during this activity, I have learned that "student engagement is active engagement is active engagement in real life." I would like to borrow the words of the famous Chinese proverb that states, “Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.” This proverb is likened to real world collaboration and how our students can benefit from being taught outside the four walls of the classroom. When students are involved in project-based learning that puts them in the real world, with real issues that are of interests to them, they will never forget the concepts that they discover.

I now want to conclude with yet another Chinese proverb, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

Activity 5: Engaged Learning

It was a wonderful experience to use MindMeister. I can't wait to try it with my students. What a way to get students engaged in learning. The ideas shared by my colleagues were superb and a great wealth of knowledge was gained.

Activity 4: Knowledge Building

This activity allowed me to do some self assessment to determine my level of learning environment provision. It also gave me the opportunity to collaborate with my team in making a list of things that I need to put in place inorder for me to create an environment conducive for learning.

I like the fact that a template was provided to aid me with planning a project in a variety of steps so as not get overwhelmed. It has shown me that I need to practice this skill with my students if knowledge bulding is to take place.

Module 7: Activity 3: Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is an important aspect to education and should be encouraged in our classrooms. This type of thinking involves in-depth thoughts, open-mindedness, ability to respect others opinions and forces one to use further questions to arrive at acceptable answers.

When educators use critical thinking in their classrooms, they are using one element of 21st century education.

I am was rather surprise to see some of the things that needs to be done so that I can encourage critical thinking in my subject area. These include but not limited to:- the socratic method of questioning/dialog, media skills, intellectual virtues, and determining what types of question to ask that would force students to ask other questions so that they are clear with what is required of them. For example, questions of point of view, or accuracy, or logic.

How would you feel if you were a student of the 21st century and you were being taught with 19th and 18th century methods and teaching styles?

Module 7 Activity 2: A vision for my subject in the 21st Century

This was quite an activity which caused me to thinking deeply and to use my creative skills to arrive at a plausible plan for Clothing and Textiles with the integration of some of the key elements of the 21st Century. It was not until this term when I collaborated with the art teacher at my school that I discovered an easier and more efficient way to use the projector for stencil making. This knowledge has of the use of an ICT tool has opened avenues for creative skills, adaptability, life and careers skills to name a few. It was quite a learning experience to be able view other colleagues presentations in their subject areas which will certainly aid in my pursuit of interdisciplinary, project-based, research driven curriculum and being 21st Century ready.

Module 7: Activity 1b

To be an effective facilitator in the 21st century education, there are many key elements that need to be used or put in place. Ten of these that were put forward by my colleagues and I are:-

• agility and adaptability which equip learners with skills to be use beyond school.
• integration of technology to make learning fun and easily accessible.
• allowance of collaboration so that diversity can be catered for.
• life and career skills acquisition which can be beneficial to the learners in the world of work.
• use of or development of holistic and integrated curriculum to produce well-rounded learners.
• learners being able to organize the information that they receive in the correct manner.
• giving learners the opportunity to use as many ICT tools as possible so that they can knowledge banks can be replenished.
• encouraging learners to thinking a the higher level of their cognitive development.
• encourage creativity in the classroom so that learners can produce original pieces of work.
• provide opportunities for learners to  use their imagination and use their curious instinct to discovery a wide extent of unlimited boundaries.

Module 7: Activity 1a

Who would have thought that the changing times would influence the way in which we get and share ideas? How are we as educators going to adapt to the wide variety of changes that are in the world today? Are we willing to make the necessary changes so that our students can be productive?

Module 7: Activity 0

It's great to be back at it again. Learning is sweet and I am looking forward to the next seven packed weeks.    Are you ready everybody? Let's get this thing over and done with. :-) Welcome back everyone.