Amy Fontaine's Page

For students to be successful in the 21st century, a new set of tools is essential.  Students need to be critical thinkers, collaborators, have adaptability, initiative, effective oral and written communication skills and the ability to access and analyze the tremendous amount of information thrown at them on a daily basis. Corporations are now looking for employees that have a keen sense of curiosity and imagination, people that can think outside the box.  It is crucial that students become continuous learners and possess the skills for active and informed citizenship.  Collaboration no longer takes place with a few colleagues in a conference room. It has become global, teams made up of people from all over the world.   This global collaboration requires a tolerance and respect for cultural, racial, religious and ethnic diversity.

Today's students are motivated by technology.  This is where their interests lie and how they want to be educated.  Students want to be engaged in relevant learning that will allow them to make a difference in this world.  David Warlick spoke about a new type of literacy, one that requires students to do more than simply reading, writing and arithmetic.   This contemporary literacy involves the skills necessary with exposing knowledge, employing information, expressing ideas, and ethics on the Internet   Students need to develop the ability to find relevant information using a vast internet full of resources and have the ability to determine its authenticity and value.  Students must comprehend the information regardless of its format and organize this information in a useful manner.  Writing a quality paragraph is not enough, students need to effectively and creatively develop a message, using text, audio and video,  and engage their audience.

Content should not be the only thing we teach, but the means in which we develop essential 21st century skills.   We are preparing students today for jobs that have not been created.  In a world where "teaching to the test" has become the norm in schools across the country, educators need to find a way to deliver content, make ayp, but at the same time, educate for innovation.

In order to do this, teachers need to cease working in isolation and truly become the professional learning communities schools strive to be.  Dr. Tony Wagner spoke about education being the most isolated profession and reminded us that isolation is the enemy of improvement.

For the past several years, my colleagues and I have used an approach known as PBL or project based learning.  I am thrilled and relieved after reading and watching the videos, to learn that we are at least headed in the right direction.  In my heart I realize why I became a teacher.  It's not to say I had the highest test scores.  It is to create individuals that love to learn, that are curious about the world around them, that celebrate diversity and want to make a difference in this world. I want to create students that are able to analyze, problem solve and think outside the box.  I love the question posed by Dr. Tony Wagner, "How do we educate for innovation?"  After watching his video, I immediately clicked over and ordered his book and cannot wait to read it and apply it in my classroom.  It is my ultimate goal to become an administrator and help teachers do just that....educate for innovation...inspiration...and change.  I found the list of ten tips for developing a 21st century classroom inspiring and cannot wait to implement some of the tips into professional development.  I especially loved the first tip, "Pull, Don't Push."  Students are much more motivated when they are seeking the answers to their own questions and curiosities.  I think the message is quite clear on what we need to do for our students in order to prepare them for what lies ahead....whatever that may be.

Am I a digital immigrant or digital native?   I would describe myself as someone fairly new to the technical world, but someone who realizes the importance this digital world has on student motivation and preparation for the future.   I have submersed myself in the culture and have come a long way.  I still have a lot to learn but I am looking forward to the journey.