The 21st Century Teacher

Former associate editor of Fortune magazine Alvin Toffler affirmed, "the illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn." While Toffler's statement may be interpreted in various ways, I find this sentiment applicable to elements of 21st century classroom. Ultimately, a 21st century classroom demands a 21st century teacher to appropriately shape the environment. Requisites of a 21st century teacher include being informed and adaptive. The 21st century teacher is able to exercise flexibility and growth in order revamp and refashion according to new ways of teaching. This teacher understands and communicates the necessary skills that students require to adapt in a world that is constantly in flux and changing. The environment should be one that is collaborative, facilitating both discussion among students as well as an enriching exchange of ideas. I believe this teacher is a visionary and is able to analyze potential in new technologies. As a result, this teacher strives to stay current! This teacher is also able to apply this technology in a way that will support student learning. The 21st century teacher does not have to be tech savvy, but must be open to learning, adapting, and incorporating technology into the classroom to create a valuable learning experience for students and to help students master the abilities required of them in the 21st century. The focus of the classroom educational experience is on inquiry based learning; a question-driven student centered approach that is nurtured by a facilitating teacher. Problem solving and hands-on learning are the prime objectives of this experience. Rather than narrowly focusing on communicating time-sensitive knowledge, the classroom of the 21st century provides students with a skillset that allows them to adapt to the exerchanging environment that they will encounter beyond the classroom setting.