It Takes More Than One: Learning From Each Other

During elementary school, I quietly sat there in my desk, copied notes from an overhead projector or chalkboard and always respected the teacher. I understood "the game." During high school, I became involved in various school councils/committees and constantly interacted with teachers. I also always did my homework and would write argumentative essays that I knew sided with the teacher's ideas on the topic. I understood "the game." I didn't disrespect, lie, cheat, yell, complain, arrive late, or skip class. I understood "the game."

What is "the game" you may ask... The game that I am referring to is being a respectful, involved academic student. I was essentially a master at the traditional model of education, the "Old Story." The traditional approach to education involves sitting quietly in separate rows of desks, the teacher lecturing at the front, and students work involves memorization.

However, we are in the twenty-first century and not all students benefit from this model of education! Many students did not benefit from the traditional model years ago, and with increasing globalization and technology, why would that model benefit the majority of students today?

I (as an educator and learner) have an infinite amount to learn from the environment that I am surrounded by and through human interaction. Learning and interactive engagement are indispensable to each other. Essentially, we learn from each other! I believe many students in the 21st century would benefit from project-based learning [grounded in constructivist learning, critical thinking, and learning while doing the project] AND/OR a holistic curriculum approach [considers teaching the whole child and interacting with the environment].

Through the readings (particularly in chapter 2), I have come to further understand what twenty-first century skills encompass, including: communication, creativity, cultural and ethical citizenship, character, and collaboration. I think these twenty-first century skills are essential to integrate in the classroom not simply to meet curriculum outcomes, but to help students learn and become democratic citizens.

In May of 2014, I went on a mission trip to Ecuador. Before I departed many friends and family said, "You will change the lives of many people!"... While other friends and family said, "The students and people you meet will change your life forever." Nobody really understood that this was a MUTUAL exchange involving friendship, spirituality, trust and learning (not merely one way). I understood this though even before I left. I wanted to become immersed in their Latin American culture as much as I wanted to teach the Ecuador students about Canada. I wanted to learn together!

I created a lesson plan before I left for the trip. I came in contact with my former elementary school and completed a project-based lesson in a grade six classroom. I asked the students what they knew about Latin America and presented some information about Ecuador. We then had a discussion about what "culture" meant and created a list of various symbols in Canadian culture. Students then created a Canadian culture collage using magazine and newspaper clippings. I then took their projects to the school in Ecuador to give the students visuals on how Canada looks. The Ecuador students then completed the same task, but for their culture. It was an amazing cultural exchange! In addition, I created this cultural session for the sake of LEARNING! I feel that students should not constantly be concerned about "getting the highest mark" as it forms an environment of competition. I grew up in this type of environment, and although I did well in it, what did we all truly learn? Let's try learning for the sake of learning...

This is Page 2 of the newspaper article (Page 1 included names of students in the grade 6 class).

Personal Picture, Permission to Use. Guayaquil, Ecuador.

I was astounded by the students' abilities to work both individually and collectively, to creatively construct a collage that represents their country. The lesson truly utilized twenty-first century skills. The cultural exchange of lessons was an experience that I will never forget. The students from both countries had many questions about the lifestyles and students in the other country. The lesson I constructed was new and exciting because it marked uncharted territory for me (I never previously had the responsibility of creating lesson plans and had never truly experienced project-based learning). I think it is essential for present teachers to embed twenty-first century skills into the curriculum and lesson plans, because they are teaching to twenty-first century learners!

Let's take a look at what 21st century Education looks like...




"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -Benjamin Franklin


Concepts regarding education and curriculum referenced from Chapter 1 & 2:

Drake, S.M. & Reid, J.L. & Kolohon, W. (2014). Interweaving curriculum and classroom assessment: Engaging the 21 Century Learner. Toronto, ON: Oxford University Press.