Moving On... 21st Century Learning by Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano
May
30
Written by:
5/30/2009 1:25 AM
Image by hubertk
A few days ago was graduation day for 6th graders at my school. I
started teaching these same students Spanish as little 1st graders when
I started working there. It was bittersweet to hear them sing “Time of
your Life” from Green Day, since I will be moving on to another school
as they are.
Another turning point; a fork stuck in the road.
Time grabs you by the wrist; directs you where to go.
So make the best of this test and don’t ask why.
I have accepted a one year consulting position as the 21st Century Learning Specialist at the Martin J Gottlieb Day School
here in town. A new challenge, new perspectives and above all
excitement in working and learning with the faculty, administrators,
students and parents of the school community.
Try googling a “21st Century Learning Specialist?” You will get relatively few results. Most of them will point you to Kim Cofino and her position as the 21st Century Literacy Specialist at the International School of Bangkok (ISB), Thailand.
Kim, as one of the pioneers of such a position defines her role in one of her blog posts.
The 21st Century Literacy Specialist position combines
the process and best practice approaches of successful technology
facilitation with the wealth of resources available in the library. ISB
is actively seeking to build a Learning Hub that successfully blends
the traditional role of a library with the requirements of the 21st
century global student. The role of the 21st Century Literacy
Specialist is to bridge that gap. The focus of this position is to help
core subject teachers utilize web 2.0 technologies in the classroom, to
create a global and collaborative approach to learning. The design of
authentic and engaging international projects which incorporate social
networking, blogs, wikis, and podcasts, and whatever comes next, is
paramount to the success of this position. The 21st Century Literacy
Specialist works in collaboration with the Media Specialist and
Technology and Learning Coordinator to ensure a seamless transition
between traditional and digital literacy skills.
So, what is a 21st Century Learning Specialist? Here is my vision.
In a previous post of mine, I documented my thoughts on Changing-Shifting a School Culture- Train of Thought. It took me to one of Will Richardson’s post Wanted: School Chief Learning Officer where he asks if schools:
- Welcome innovation and contributions from its teachers?
- Encourage (and provide time for) reflection on successes and flops?
- Tolerate mistakes and reward thinking out of the box?
- Share information openly?
- Foster learning for everyone?
- Experiment with new ways of doing things?
- Work across departments and unit boundaries with ease?
I see a 21st Century Learning Specialist ( 21stCLS) bring awareness
to these questions and facilitate a shift towards answering them.
Her/his primary goal is helping others become self directed learners.
If learning equals experiencing plus reflecting, then the 21st Century
Learning Specialist needs to create an environment in the school
community that allows those two things to happen.
Is there a difference between a Learning Specialist and a 21st Century Learning Specialist? Did the latter evolve from the first or is it “just” a technology add-on?
The 21st Century Learning Specialist works within the Framework of 21st Century Learning.
21ST CENTURY STUDENT OUTCOMES:
1. Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes
2. Learning and Innovation Skills
3. Information, Media and Technology Skills
4. Life and Career Skills
21ST CENTURY SUPPORT SYSTEMS:
1. 21st Century Standards
2. Assessment of 21st Century Skills
3. 21st Century Curriculum and Instruction
4. 21st Century Professional Development
5. 21st Century Learning Environments
The 21stCLS is part of the support system and works with all the stakeholders of the school community including
- Teachers
- Administrators & Staff
- Students
- Parents
The 21stCLS models and helps (in planned and unplanned moments) all
stakeholders involved understand how learning is changing and the way
technology is changing society. He/She is making her own learning transparent in order to teach. He/She creates, maintains and facilitates a learning environment for independent-self directed learners.
The 21stCLS spends time with teachers in their classrooms, not to
criticize their teaching nor overthrow their lessons, but to listen and
observe. He/She will encourage awareness and reflection in teachers on
their teaching AND learning practices as it relates to 21st century
skills. The 21stCLS will identify leaders and coaches among the
faculty as an integral part to the success of a learning community. By
observing and reflecting together with the teachers, the 21stCLS will
be able to understand better where each teacher fits within the
learning community. Who is receptive, motivated, passionate (about
what?) and ready to take initiative? Who will take responsibility in
their area of influence?
The 21stCLS becomes the community’s connector for (global) learning
opportunities, relevant and current educational discussions. His/Her
goal is to equip and enable others to collaborate, connect, communicate
and create. He/She helps shift and (return if necessary) the focus on
student and life long learning.
image by afagen
Albert Einstein said:
I never teach my pupils, I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.
A 21st CLS cannot MAKE anyone learn. He/She can only provide the
conditions and environment where learning and communication is possible
and more convenient. An environment where its members feel safe to
try…fail..try again…and succeed.
Shifting the mindset of a school and its stakeholders towards 21st
century learning and skills is a process NOT a program. It requires
each member to recognize that they are an important component in the
overall process. The 21st CLS is present to help identify learning
goals of the community and facilitate communication and collaboration
among its members.
I want to close this post with yet another quote (by Socrates) that summarizes my vision of a 21st century learning specialist.
I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.
4 comment(s) so far...
Moving On... 21st Century Learning by Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano
This is not a new job, it's just a new title. What is described above is a position I still call a "librarian". Unfortunately too many schools do not allow librarians to fullfill this part of their job, instead saddling them with clerical and babysitting duties. Perhaps the new name is a good thing though, it will fool school districts who don't understand the roles and training of school librarians into hiring a more appropriate number of librarians (under whichever of the several titles they now appear).
By Jennifer Jones on
6/5/2009 6:57 AM
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Moving On... 21st Century Learning by Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano
You ask: "Is there a difference between a Learning Specialist and a 21st Century Learning Specialist? Did the latter evolve from the first or is it 'just' a technology add-on?"
Not only is it not just a technology add-on, it is a new way of thinking about education, its purpose, outcomes, students, teachers, and the very roots of education. It challenges us to innovate or to become irrelevant. While it may be more comfortable to adopt incremental change, I do not think incremental change is enough. The institutional barriers to significant change are deep and not likely to be easily overcome. Experiments outside of formal education are more likely to result in the changes necessary to really address 21st century learning outcomes and systems.
By Steve Taffee on
6/5/2009 5:52 AM
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Moving On... 21st Century Learning by Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano
I find it rather interesting that someone feels the need to create a new educational professional for the 21st century! All the specialists you refer to in your article ALREADY EXIST and serve students of the 21st century!
You state "The 21stCLS will identify leaders and coaches among the faculty as an integral part to the success of a learning community"--that's our 21st century Principal!
You state "Her/his primary goal is helping others become self directed learners." That is EXACTLY the role of the "traditional" school library media specialist! School librarians have ALWAYS been the first professionals in a school to utilize the newest technologies and to teach the process of finding and evaluating information. They promote collaboration between classroom teachers and the technology facilitator.
In NC, we have an effective model for delivering 21st Century skills in the guidelines for our media and technology programs called IMPACT. (www.ncwiseowl.org click Media andTechnology Zone) The national AASL and ISTE learning standards incorporate exactly what you stated in the paragraph "The 21stCLS becomes the community’s connector for (global) learning opportunities, relevant and current educational discussions. His/Her goal is to equip and enable others to collaborate, connect, communicate and create. He/She helps shift and (return if necessary) the focus on student and life long learning." Our schools already have educators fully capable of leading our students through the 21st Century.
By Jackie Pierson on
6/6/2009 12:11 PM
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Moving On... 21st Century Learning by Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano
Great article..where can i find information on learning to be a 21st centry learning specialist and curriculums. I'd like to try this method with seniors who have an interest in computers, emails, etc.
By jo russell on
6/12/2009 4:33 AM
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