Goal

Learners will evaluate the criteria for creating 21st Century schools and classrooms.

Objectives

Learners will:

1. Compare their school and classroom to the requirements for 21st Century schools and classrooms.
2. Propose changes to their classrooms to make them more in line with 21st Century classrooms.
3. Decide how to best present their ideas for better creating a 21st Century learning environment in their school.

Warm Up

Think about the physical space in your school and in your classroom.  Does the school environment resemble a modern business or a 20th Century factory?   On a piece of paper sketch out what you think the idea 21st Century school should look like, then sketch out what the idea 21st Century classroom should look like.  Be creative and think about the learning needs of students as you do this exercise.  Later you will compare this to what others have said about 21st Century learning environments.

Now take a look at "Which one describes your classroom or school?".  Analize your school and your classroom in comparison to the schools on this chart?  Take note of where they fall in each of the categories.  Does your school have more 20th or 21st Century characteristics?  Does your classroom have more 20th or 21st Century characteristics?  Take a look at the areas in which your school and/or your classroom still fall in the 20th Century category.  Jot down some ideas to move your school closer to creating a 21st Century learning environment for these.  Keep these notes and update them as you work though this module.