Last week I had the privilege of returning to Qatar Academy (thanks to the wonderful Julie Lindsay) for several days of professional development with the senior school (middle & high school) teachers. This visit was a follow-up to the trip I made to Doha last year around the same time, when I worked with the primary school teachers.

Once again, the goal of my visit was to start conversations around the changing nature of teaching and learning in the 21st century, and to provide an introductory-level look at the main trends and issues in education, over the course of their 2 days professional development entitled “Creating the Future.” I was asked to give three full-faculty presentations focusing on three facets of education: the learners, the educators and the classroom. In the interest of sharing, I thought I would post them here (more thoughts about the outcome of the visit to come soon):

The 21st Century Learner

Session Overview: Looking to engage your students through the use of new technologies? Wondering about the key skills and attributes they will need for their future? Ready to start adapting your classroom to the needs of the 21st century learner? In this presentation we will focus on strategies for helping students learn with technology the way they live with technology. Bring the engagement and excitement students have about connected learning into your classroom by embracing the new technologies and skills students are experiencing outside of school. All resources and materials used in this presentation can be found on the presentation wiki.

The 21st Century Educator

Session Overview: What exactly do RSS, blogs, wikis, podcasts, social networking and VOIP have to do with your professional practice? How can web 2.0 technologies change the way you learn, communicate, collaborate and teach? This session will focus on practical ways to utilize free web 2.0 tools to develop a personal learning network that will transform your professional practice and open your eyes to new possibilities in the classroom! All resources and materials used in this presentation can be found on the presentation wiki.

The 21st Century Classroom

Using the backwards design process, learn how to embed authentic use of technology into a project-based learning experiences for your students. With a focus on pedagogy, explore the use of several web 2.0 tools like blogs, wikis, podcasts and collaborative multimedia in various classroom examples from around the world. Ease of use, accessibility, and authentic audience make these simple tools an engaging and motivating facet to any classroom. From project design to classroom management, enhance your students’ learning through a redesigned look at the 21st century classroom. All resources and materials used in this presentation can be found on the presentation wiki.

15 thoughts on “Introducing the 21st Century

  1. Wow, excellent presentations! Even without your dialogue I get the main points and it flows well. The message is clear and succinct- has prompted me to reflect on how I express my thoughts and intro new ideas to colleagues. That message of starting small and simply while also communicating the possibilities without overwhelming listeners is so important.Thanks for sharing!

  2. Kim–this is great! I’m trying to build a webquest for a faculty meeting. I think I might be trying to do too much, I’m trying to introduce both webquests and PLNs by having the faculty explore PLN resources via a webquest. Can I steal your collection of links in your wiki?
    Sarah

  3. Kim you were awesome! Thanks for all your efforts and excellent presentations over the three days. You do make a difference.

  4. These are just GREAT presentations. Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback as ALWAYS. You were the first educational blog I read since I started my journey in technology integration. The educational basis you give towards technology has made my job alot easier since I’m not and educator it has really helped.

    Thanks

  5. Kim, excellent presentations. One point on the learner presentation. I once heard someone, and I forget who, at a presentation some years ago use a progression from “Learning About” to “Learning with” to “Learning through” technology and I have used this many times in my presentations and workshops. Perhaps a thought for your “strategies for helping students learn with technology the way they live with technology”?
    I would love to have a skype with you some time about your presentation in Doha and some comments in this post from a Hong Kong teacher http://elementbendingeducation.blogspot.com/2009/02/durable-mutations.html I am seriously questioning whether my efforts to shift schools by arranging workshops, conferences and seminars is having any effect beyond keeping me poor and frustrated. I think Gilbert is on to something when he speaks of trying to offer things that make institutional sense rather than educational sense.

  6. The presentations are great – both for a “connected” teacher and an “isolated” teacher. The message is fantastically meaningful and connted to students for anyone who is in the field of education. Also, I LOVE the images.

  7. If you’re interested in free innovative Web 2.0 learning tools, check out Pixton – an award-winning website where you create comics without having to draw. Interactive comics are a great way to engage and motivate students.

    You can design every aspect of your character, and move it into any pose you want. All you have to do is click-and-drag to change or reposition any part of it – the creative and artistic possibilities are endless!

    Share with others, post to blog or remix comics to add your own twist. Read comics in over 40 languages, with our automatic translation by Google. Language filters, privacy settings, and flagging mechanisms help preserve a safe online environment.

    Try it out and let us know what you think, sign-up is free!

    thanks,
    Clive
    Creator of Pixton – Interactive Web Comics

  8. @Nancy,

    Thank you! I’m so glad the message gets through even without my actual presentation.

    @Sarah,

    Please, feel free to use whatever you need! Let me know how it turns out!

    @Mike,

    Thank you! I really appreciate the positive feedback.

    @Lidia,

    Thank you! How cool that this was the first educational blog you read! Wow, you made my day :)

    @Paul,

    Thanks for the ideas about the progression from “learning about” to “learning with” to “learning through” – will have to add/adapt that for the next round of presentations! Would be happy to Skype with you anytime!

    @Jeff,

    Thanks!

    @G. Steve McCallum,

    Thank you!

    @emisegadis,

    Thank you so much! Glad the presentations make sense on their own!

    @Clive,

    Thanks for sharing.

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