We teach in 2016 so why do many of our classrooms look like they’re from the 1950s? Concepts from engineering can help to modernize our teaching methods and classroom style. This presentation covers tools for improving technology integration, collaboration, creativity, inquiry, justification for answers, writing for reflection, problem solving, hands-on learning, the role of the teacher as a facilitator, and transparent assessment. Initially presented at the AACT Dow Teacher Summit in Austin, Texas, July 2016.

1. 10 Signs of a 21st Century
Classroom
Patrick Goertz

2. 10 Signs of 21st Century Classroom
• Developed as a guide to improve STEM offerings
• Cross curricular
• Published on Edutopia

3. Why 21st Century?
• We’re already 16 years in.
• Other possibilities?
• Conveys urgency and familiarity

4. Classroom of the Past
• Linear
• Vertical knowledge transfer
• Worked well for the time

5. What has changed?
• Understanding of the Brain
• Society
• Workforce needs

6. #1:Technology Integration
• More than just use of technology
• Outcome should be different

7. Tech Idea: Socrative
• Quick responses
• Anonymous
• Exit ticket
• Cross platform

8. Tech Idea: PhET
• Over 100 sims
• Physics, chem, bio

9. #2: Collaboration
• Not a matter of introvert/extrovert
• Exposure to new ideas
• Opposing viewpoints

10. Collaboration Idea: Kagan Strategies
• Based on Multiple Intelligence research
• Engagement and movement

11. Collaboration Idea:Teacher PLN
• Not just for students
• Observe
• Discuss

12. Collaboration Idea: Brainstorming
• Important part of the engineering design process
• Keep positive
• Methods:
• Visual
• Ladder

13. #3: Creativity
• STEAM
• Builds confidence
• Increase in productivity

14. Creativity Idea:Video Contest
• Students have added motivation
• Can be used as assessment

15. Creativity Idea: In Character Presentations
• Students act the role:
• Scientists
• Experts
• Atoms

16. #4: Inquiry
• Develops student-scientists
• Question based approach
• Guided vs. open

17. Inquiry Idea: Open Ended Labs
• Included in more AP courses
• Let students decide how to demonstrate a concept

18. Inquiry Idea: Student Designed Labs
• Pose a question
• Students determine steps to an answer

19. #5: CriticalThinking
• Students justify answers
• Challenge preconceptions
• Make thoughts visible

20. CriticalThinking Idea:Why?
• Like a child
• Be annoying

21. CriticalThinking Idea:Test Corrections
• Allow students opportunity to reflect
• More than just correct answer
• Contentious area

22. #6: Writing
• Specifically for reflection
• Metacognition
• Error avoidance

23. Writing Idea: Engineering Journals
• Document the entire process
• Skills
• Observation
• Notetaking
• Sketching
• Organization

24. Writing Idea: Peer Review
• Scientific process
• Allows students to view other work

25. #7: Problem Solving
• Fits into a number of other ideas
• Standardized method of approaching any situation

26. Problem Solving Idea: Unanswerable Question
• Mars Problem
• What other questions are involved?

27. Problem Solving: Rube Goldberg
• Great way to analyze motion/energy conversion
• Video

28. #8: Hands-on
• Kinesthetic
• Connection to outside world
• Great to be a science teacher

29. Hands-on Idea: Probeware
• Vernier or Pasco
• Measurement of numerous factors

30. Hands-on Idea: Projects
• Can span an entire unit
• Roller coaster project

31. #9:Teacher as Facilitator
• Personalized education
• Guide and mentor
• Help students to find passion

32. Facilitator Idea: Capstone Research
• Students choose final project
• Project presentation night

33. Facilitator Idea: StudentTaught Lesson
• Students become “experts”
• Teacher reviews lessons before presentation

34. #10:Transparent Assessment
• Students should know what and how
• Link to objectives

35. Assessment Idea: Rubrics
• Especially useful for projects
• Unambiguous categories
• Students require training

36. Assessment Idea: Distributed Labs
• Too many labs?
• One student per lab group writes the report
• Formal lab
• Turn rotates

37. Assessment Idea: Standards Based Grading
• Don’t be alarmed!
• Acknowledges that students learn at different speeds
• Varied ways to use this

38. Image Attributions
• [SDCHS Students]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2015, from www.saviochs.org
• Edutopia Logo [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2015, from http://www.edutopia.org/sites/all/themes/edutopia/images/logo-print.png
• [1950s Classroom]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2015, from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Parkside_Elementary_3rd_Grade_Class_1965.JPG/1280px-Parkside_Elementary_3rd_Grade_Class_1965.JPG
• Brain [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2015, from http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/sites/default/files/field/image/brain-512758_1280.png
• IPad Mini [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved July 13, 2016, from http://iphoneate.com/encuentran-referencias-de-un-ipad-mini-en-la-aplicacion-instapaper
• Socrative Cell Phone [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2015, from Www.soctrative.com
• PhET Simulation [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2015, from https://dr282zn36sxxg.cloudfront.net/datastreams/f-d:06e173872a8cf2c6b0f5a9eb9f5774cc8c15a4c58d1a1c3cf0469cdd+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.1
• Dept Heads [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved July 14, 2016, from http://www.saviochs.org/editoruploads/images/Welcome/Staff Directory/DeptHeads.JPG
• [Creativity]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2015, from http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2015-07-16-1437023087-795636-Huffpostbusiness.jpg
• Question [Digital image]. (2014, January 18). Retrieved November 9, 2015, from https://openclipart.org/detail/190137/question
• Writing [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2015, from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Writing.svg/240px-Writing.svg.png
• Mars [Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2015, from http://www.latinquasar.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=516&Itemid=2
•
Checklist Icon [Digital image]. (2008, December 1). Retrieved November 8, 2015, from https://openclipart.org/image/2400px/svg_to_png/20498/CoD-fsfe-Checklist-icon.png