I am looking to assemble a team to participate in the 2014 Brain War at Saint Mary's University. Check out the link for details. Think you're smart? Really smart? Then play Brain War, coming to Halifax February 21st, 2015. Brain War begins with a bang: an intensive, 6 hour, intellectual, emotional & creative marathon. Think you’ve got what it takes to win Brain War? Assemble your Army and come prepared to battle. http://brainwar.ca/
Cultural evolution changes rapidly in leaps and bounds, partly due to the influence of ever changing technology. Learning targets for 21st century learners are changing as well. Teachers, parents, and students play key roles in the evolution of our approaches to teaching and learning. For an interesting read on biology in the 21st century, check out Integrative Biology: Science for the 21st Century at http://bioscience.oxfordjournals.org/content/58/4/349.full.html The article suggests several changes to both scientific research and to science education. The main suggestion focuses on a change in attitude from an individual approach to science to a more integrative and collaborative approach. This will allow critical thinking and the generation of creative and innovative ideas which can drive science. In order for change to take place, the advantages of a collaborative approach must be clearly communicated as the driving force behind future scientific success. The article concludes by stating, "Integrative attitudes and approaches will lead to innovative, progressive, and enlightened scholars in the 21st century. Science and society will derive great benefits from their contributions to research, education, and humanity." Parents, teachers and students all have important roles to play. Check out the following link to access A Parent's Guide to 21st Century Learning at http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/guides/edutopia-parents-guide-21st-century-learning.pdf
The 21st century learning target depicted below provides a general direction towards the future of education. The 4 Cs of 21st century learning - Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Communication should be the essential components of modern lesson plans. In the high school science classroom, project based learning, open-ended questioning, student choice and collaboration can provide opportunities to reach learning targets. The traditional lecture approach coupled with fact based worksheets and textbook questions are no longer adequate to meet the needs of all learners. Technology can help facilitate learning but it is merely one tool that must be used in well designed activities. Students need to be engaged in order to learn and teachers have a responsibility to help students achieve their potential. As Socrates said, "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." As life long learners, we must embrace change in our classrooms. |
Mrs. CormierScience teacher at Prince Andrew High School since 2002. Archives
November 2015
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