The 21st Century Classroom
Dec 4, 2011
Classroom of the XXI Century: Transformation of Learning
There is powerful evidence that technology can make a difference for both the effectiveness and efficiency of all facets of education and learning. Learning technologies are absolutely necessary components of any effective educational policy.
Preparing students to be successful in an innovation-based economy is a function of empowering educators to teach 21st Century content in a 21st Century context using 21st Century tools. So, how should schools re-engineer their practices and technology use to best prepare students for a 21st Century life? [1]
In this context, the classroom of the XXI Century is a space in which teachers and students can interact with each others using a wide range of Information and Communication Technology resources that enable[2]:
- Improving academic performance
- Updating teaching practice
- Incorporation of a collaborative work environment
- Addressing curriculum into modernization process
- Efficient scholar management
- Giving added value to teaching-learning process
CIFAL Atlanta with the support of Promethean, Intel, Pearson, Positivo Informatica, Royal Technologies and DidaTech are currently implementing a pilot project of the “Classroom of the XXI Century” at School Celina Pellier in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Through this project innovative educational technologies were donated to fifth graders from School Celina Pellier to provide students with access to 21st century tools. The donation included:
- Interactive Board and digital content on science from Promethean
- Classmate PCs of Intel
- E-blocks from Positivo Informatica
- Digital content and literature on Math and English from Pearson
In addition, teachers from School Celina Pellier are receiving training related to the use of these technological tools and how they can be integrated into the teaching process.
The donation of the “Classroom of the XXI Century” was done in the framework of the Americas Competitiveness Forum V held in Santo Domingo on October 5-7, 2011. The First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Madame Margarita Cedeno de Fernandez thanked the companies involved in this initiative for their efforts in advancing education. The Head of the School, Antonia Pichardo along with the students received the donation and stressed the importance of “providing our children with high quality education and tools that will make them more competitive in the XXI century”.
Juan Tobon from Intel indicated that he expects that “fifth graders from School Celina Pellier achieve better learning results through the use of this technology”. Geoff Drayton from Promethean highlighted that “efforts should be made so that more schools in Latin America have this opportunities and greater access to ICTs”.
Related links:
