Dorothy+Burt


 * Keynote Speaker - Dorothy Burt ** Whakatu Cluster Meeting Term 2/2009

Dorothy Burt’s presentation at the Whakatu cluster group meeting reinforced my vision for what a 21st Century Learner is. Dorothy’s ideas confirmed my experiences and belief that Web 2.0 applications/DLOs (digital learning objects) enable children to give their opinions – for me this also links into the inquiry process and the use of thinking skills. For me these are both parts of being a 21st Century Learner. Dorothy stated that Web 2.0 applications/DLOs enable children to become confident writers. I strongly believe that schools in the 21st century and beyond are places where students and teachers use ICT to communicate, collaborate, customize and create.

Dorothy gave examples of how Web 2.0 applications/DLOs can provide an audience for writers – Sue Palmer in her writing and research also states that writer’s need an audience. But it is not about throwing out the baby with the bath water (a 19th century term!?) traditional teaching skills are still relevant – Dorothy pointed out that the New Zealand Curriculum states: “Schools should explore not only how ICT can supplement traditional ways of teaching but also how it can open up new and different ways of learning.”

 In my own teaching I use a combination of traditional ways and new ways of learning. For Room 5’s Voicethread we had lessons with WALTs and success criteria – we also incorporated thinking skills (we used the SOLO Taxonomy thinking strategy). We created a define map (a graphic organiser used to brainstorm relevant and non-relevant ideas). Next we used our maps to create our own definitions - we wrote our definitions in our draft books. Finally we recorded our definitions on Voicethread. We’ve also embedded the Voicethread into our class blog! [|Check out our Voicethread on our blog]

 It was also interesting that Dorothy discussed how literacy (reading, writing, speaking and listening) was at the core of every subject – even if we are teaching physics literacy is crucial. This also reflects my own educational ethos.

 Another important issue that Dorothy brought up was that of Cyber Safety and our 21st Century Learners digital footprint, and how important it was that we are “intentionally teaching and modelling digital citizenship”. Currently we have downloaded the Hector Safety Button on to all the new computers in school and Year 3s have been watching some of the Hector episodes, and we have been discussing cyber safety. The importance of cyber safety and the concept of a digital footprint is an important factor for discussion and incorporation into our curriculum at Tahunanui School.

 Another interesting concept that Dorothy raised was that “content is king” and as teachers we need to “appeal to the mindset of the current generation”. I felt that the message of what we ‘see’ (or create) does not have to come in a beautiful ‘blonde’ package is also important for discussion within the 21st Century classroom – and then the added message that it is also important that the ‘world’ gets the ‘round’ package of who an individual is.

 In her final message Dorothy reminded us that “this stuff is not going to go away”. I hope that she inspired people with her own experiences of starting as a 21st Century learner with no ICT skills and far she had come from her own starting point. Thanks Dorothy for an thought provoking talk for all 21st Century Learners - students and teachers alike!

 Reflections by Emma Watts (Lead E-Learning Teacher at Tahunanui School)