Are you a 21st century teacher?

The SimpleK12 Learning community put out this question not too long ago 'Are you a 21st century teacher' in their blog post: http://blog.simplek12.com/education/21-signs-youre-a-21st-century-teacher/. They added a number of pointers to consider. This really got me thinking. Let’s be honest – our world is changing rapidly – are we as educators keeping up? What do you think about these questions? Do you think they are a fair reflection of effective 21st century teaching?  SimpleK12 has also made this information available as a PDF document. You can find it here: http://files.simplek12.com/workbooks/21Signs21stCenturyTeacher.pdf
Here are the 20 points taken from their blog (but please visit their great blog to see them in the original post)

1. You require your students to use a variety of sources for their research projects...and they cite blogs, podcasts, and interviews they've conducted via Skype.2.

2.Your students work on collaborative projects...with students in another country.

3. You give weekly class updates to parents...via your blog.

4. Your students participate in class...by tweeting their questions and comments.

5. You ask your students to study and create reports on a controversial topic...and you grade their video submissions.

6. You prepare substitutes with detailed directions...via Podcasts.

7. You ask your students to do a character/historical person study...and they create mock social media profiles of their character.

8. Your students create a study guide...working together on a group wiki.

9. You share lesson plans with your teacher friends...from around the globe.

10. Your classroom budget is tight...but it doesn't matter because there are so many free resources on the web you can use.

11. You realize the importance of professional development...and you read blogs, join online communities, and tweet for self development.

12. You take your students on a field trip to the Great Wall of China...and never leave your classroom.

13. Your students share stories of their summer vacation...through an online photo repository.

14. You visit the Louvre with your students by means of a virtual tour...and don't spend a cent.

15. You teach your students not to be bullies...or cyberbullies.

16. You make your students turn in their cell phones before class starts...because you plan on using them in class.

17. You require your students to summarize a recent chapter...and submit it to you via a text message.

18. You showcase your students' original work...to the world.

19. You have your morning coffee...while checking your RSS feed.

20. You are reading this!

A primary school project your students will love - the Monster project - sign up opens 12 September!

Last year we participated in a yearly project run by Terry Smith, Assistant Professor of Education at Western Illinois University in the USA. I was the IT support to Grade 5B at Fish Hoek Primary who actually won the Top Monster Award with their Tokoloshi Afrika! Let me tell you about it – maybe you would like to participate this year. 

A word from Terry Smith the project leader

“Greetings Monster Makers,

Remember Tokoloshi-Afrika from Mrs. Beagley's class in Cape Town, South Africa? That was last year's TOP Monster. Be warned - the Monsters are coming again in 2011!! Another year, another colossal collaborative global event - Be There, If You Dare!
Project site: http://www.smithclass.org/proj/Monsters
To Join: e-mail smithterryk@gmail.com
See Past Photos and Student Work: http://www.smithclass.org/proj/Monsters
Get Signed Up - Sept 12-23"

How we went about it in 2009

It all started in a mysterious way. Mrs Beal (that's me) and Mrs Beagley got to hear about a global Monster Literacy and Design Technology project. 38 classes from around the world were collaborating by each giving a description of a part of a monster in the form of 8-12 adjectives, and then actually making the monster from everybody's adjectives. It was a type of competition because in the end everyone votes for the best monster. Well, you know what Mrs Beagley is like - she LOVES learning that is combined with fun! And you know what Mrs Beal is like - she ADORES global projects. The project is run by an Assistent Professor of Education at Western Illinois University in the United States, so we looked at his website, found out all about it - and JOINED!!! We had 30 days to make our monster...till the end of October.

We sent in a photo and description of the class

First we had to send in a photo and description of our class for Mr Smith to upload to his website. This is what we wrote about Grade 5B

We chose a body part which was available on the monster website

Well...to continue our tale. By the time we signed up not too many parts were left. We chose the earings. Here is our final description of the earings.

We started to design a monster according to the descriptions given by the other classes of the body parts they had chosen. 

Designing the monster

We downloaded all the 38 classes’ descriptions, printed them out and Mrs Beagley’s class got down to work, in their groups. When they had finished Mrs Beagley selected the best one.

Then it was a case of cutting out from card

There was a lot of painting involved.

The classed used so many different materials

We even had a visit from 40 of the Microsoft Innovative Teacher finalists attending the World Finals event. They loved the monster. 

Terry Smith sent us updates all the time from the 38 classes. The last step was to find a name. We decided on Tokoloshi-Afrika.

The other classes all voted on the best monster. Mrs Beagley’s class won!

Now for a word from Tokoloshi-Afrika himself.  Click on the picture and then click on the play button on the new page.

The world map of social networks

Don't you just love these infographics? Facebook is just everywhere! Click on the picture to be taken to the original website.