The document discusses the changing role of education in preparing students for the 21st century. It states that education must prepare students for current and future societies, not just past ones, as globalization has connected people in new ways. It argues that learning should be student-centered, collaborative, and have relevant content. Technology allows for new approaches to meeting student needs and interests through 24/7 access to information, social interaction, and shared digital content.
2. The role of education is to prepare students to become
active, successful, and contributing members of society.
We cannot adequately prepare students for the society
that exists today or will exist tomorrow, if we continue to
prepare them for the society that existed yesterday. Since,
Globalization has opened up the world and allowed people
to connect in new and exciting ways. We blend traditions
and create unique belief systems that are not taught in any
classroom, but are developed through our life experiences
and passions.
However, despite learning about the skills that students
will need to develop to become successful in the 21st
century, as well as what beliefs about education may be
worth hanging onto or throwing away, schools and
teachers are left trying to figure out what their role needs
to be in the education of their 21st century students.
3. Instruction should be student-centered
Education is no longer about listening to the
teacher talk and absorbing the information, students
will need to connect the new information with the
knowledge they already have and apply it to solving
the problem at hand.
Instead of passively receiving information, the
students would gather information on their own, under
the guidance of their teacher. They must engage in
many different types of hands-on activities, as well as
demonstrate learning in many ways.
4. Education should be collaborative
Students should be encourage to work together to
discover information, piece it together, and construct
meaning. They should learn how to recognize the different
strengths and talents each person can bring to a project,
and change roles depending on those attributes.
Schools should also be collaborating with other
educational institutions around the world to share
information and learn about different practices or methods
that have been developed. They should be willing to alter
their instructional methods in light of new advancements.
5. Learning should have content
Student-centered does not mean that teacher
gives up all control of the classroom. While
students are encourage to learn in different ways,
the teacher still provides guidance as to the skills
that need to be acquired.
Since we are no longer preparing students for
specific tasks and roles, we need to take a more
general approach and teach them the skills that are
useful in any situation. Lessons have little purpose
if they do not have any impact in a student’s life
outside of the school.
6. 1. Technology allows for 24/7 access to information
2. Constant social interaction, and
3. Easily created and shared digital content.
Our students are now more inclined to find
information by accessing the Internet through cell
phones and computers or chatting with friends on a
social networking site. Teachers will begin to utilize
technology to better meet the needs and interests
of students though technology application and
instruction.
7. Use technology comprehensively to develop
proficiency in 21st century skills.
Knowledge of core content is necessary, but no
longer sufficient, for success in a competitive world.
Even if all students mastered core academic subjects,
they still would be woefully underprepared to succeed
in postsecondary institutions and workplaces, which
increasingly value people who can use their
knowledge to communicate, collaborate, analyze,
create, innovate and solve problems.
8. Use technology comprehensively to
support innovative teaching and learning.
To keep pace with changing world, schools
need to offer more rigorous, relevant and
engaging opportunities for students to learn-and
apply their knowledge and skills in meaningful
ways. Used comprehensively, technology
support new, research-based approaches and
promising practices in teaching and learning.
9. Use technology comprehensively to create
robust education support system.
To be effective in schools and classrooms,
teachers and administrators need training, tools
and proficiency in 21st century skills themselves.
Used comprehensively, technology transforms
standards and assessments, curriculum and
instruction, professional development, learning
environments, and administration.
10. Improvement of Teaching
Educational Technology analyses the process of teaching
thoroughly. It tries to find out the different variables of
teaching, their interlinks , effects upon each other,
relationships, theories of teaching, phases of teaching,
principles of teaching, maxims of teaching etc. By developing
the theories of teaching, it helps in improving the quality of
education.
Analysis of the Teaching-Learning Process
Educational Technology aims at analyzing the process of
teaching-learning thoroughly. The principles of teaching and
the maxims of teaching are also evaluated by it. Over all, it
tries to establish better relationship between teaching and
learning.
11. Improvement of Learning
Educational Technology analyses the process of
learning and the related theories. It takes the help
of various empirically established generalizations
from psychology, sociology, physical sciences,
engineering etc.
Enhancing Goals of Education
The objectives of education are being reviewed
and revised with passage of time. Educational
technology helps in finding out the right objectives
in the light of the changed circumstances and
changed environment.
12. Training to Teachers
The changed type of environment with new
curriculum and new materials is to be handled
by the teachers. Right type of training to the
teachers is the need of the hour.
Development of Curriculum
Curriculum is the total teaching-learning
environment, which has to be modified and
remodeled in the light of latest thoughts.
Educational technology can do this job of
developing a suitable curriculum appropriately.
13. Development of Teaching-Learning Materials
Teaching-learning materials are also as
important as anything else in the teaching-learning
process. Everything in the society including values
of life need be reflected in the materials.
Teaching-Learning Strategies
A strategy plays an important role in the hands
of a teacher in every teaching-learning situation.
The strategy has to be the right one, which should
be according to the materials and is able to bring
about effective teaching learning.
14. Development of Audio-Visual Aids
The software aids, the hardware aids, the
computer and other such appliances, equipment
etc., have to be used in the present type of
teaching-learning environment. Computer assisted
instructions will help the learner as well as the
teacher to achieve goals of education more
conveniently.
Help in Overall Improvement
Evaluation of the teaching-learning process is also
made better because through feedback, things are
improved thoroughly and there is better control over the
process of education. Thus, educational technology can
revolutionize the whole process of teaching learning
15. Identification of Needs of the Community
Educational Technology identifies the
needs of the community. It helps in providing
equal education opportunities to backward
people, disadvantaged students and
deprived sections of the society. Then it tries
to improve the community in every possible
way.