ABC’s of the 21st-Century
Learning Environment
We have used the 26 alphabetic symbols of the English language as a corner- stone of communication spanning
generation, race, and culture. We adapted these
concrete symbols to meet the needs of people
with specific disabilities through sign language,
Braille, and touch screens. Over time, our use
of the alphabet has morphed into new ways of
communicating, from the static phonetic rules
of specific writing genres, to interactive uses
for asynchronous online writing vehicles, such
as blogs, wikis, and e-mails, and still further to
dynamic online synchronous shorthand for text
messages and tweets. Although current educators may not fully understand how to integrate
these new forms of communication, they all
have a distinct place in today’s classrooms. Using
the alphabet as a framework, the following is a
glimpse into what you will find in a 21st-century
learning and teaching environment:
Access to all technological tools needed for
learning
Beacons of global asynchronous conversations
Confident universal engaged learners
Dynamic online information made available
anytime-anywhere
Engaged cohorts of learners immersed in
simulations
Forecasted possibilities of collaborative solutions to real-world problems
Global awareness through real-time participation in major events
Harnessed creativity through multimedia for
authentic learning
Innovations encouraged by out-of-the-box
thinking
Jpegs that augment reports and storytelling
Knowledge transfer across curricular areas
Legal and ethical discussions fueled by over-
proliferation of opinion and fact
Morphed teaching strategies from passive de-
livery to multisensory presentations
Networked video resources for worldwide in-
formation exchange
Opportunities to enroll in online courses
Production of analyzed and synthesized infor-
mation presentations
Quantitative data showing increases in academic achievement
Responsibility for learning shifted from solely
the teacher to mainly the student
Streaming video access 24/7
Transfer of technological skills that are seamless between tools
Ubiquitous access to the technical tools needed
for learning and teaching
Virtual tours and immersive learning opportunities
Web 2.0 tools integrated across the curriculum
Xerox copies as an archaic practice
Yearning to express oneself in a multimodel
way is quenched
Zoning-out of learning is prohibited
As 21st-century educators we must continue to
shift the paradigm of our teaching to meet the
needs of the newest generation of learners. This
calls for continued opportunities for professional
development in a safe environment to learn, assimilate, and practice new strategies and methods. The ABC’s of the 21st-century classroom
emerge by figuratively crushing the traditional
classroom’s concrete walls and constructing unconstrained environments that promote ubiquitous global learning.
AS I SEE “IT”
By Kimberley Ketterer
Kimberley Ketterer,
PhD, is the instructional
technology coordinator
for the Eugene (Oregon)
School District. She
oversees professional development, pilot projects,
technology planning,
and leadership envisioning. She teaches in the
College of Education at
the University of Oregon
and serves as a volunteer
columnist for L&L.
