Post 3 - Media Literacy

As I begin my fourth year in education, it is evident already that the student of the 21st century is far different than those of the 20th, and indeed, my own generation. No longer are the "Three R's" sufficient for today's fluid environments. Students must be able to analyze, create, discover, present, and work in teams. These are only a few of the skills necessary, but obtaining them is not necessarily as difficult as it seems.

There is ample opportunity for play, performance and simulation in a classroom that considers roleplaying to be an active teaching strategy. An ordinary overhead projector makes the ideal tool for turning shadow puppet wars into teachable moments. By utilizing "play" in this manner, teachers can "sneak" content and assessment in on their children, much the same way a parent might trick a child into eating vegetables. We know what is good for our children, and sometimes have to fool them into acceptance, for their own good.

Group work should be an important component in any classroom. The topic and assignment can become almost secondary when it is compared to all the other valuable lessons and social skills a student is engaged in: division of labor, negotiating party roles, team work, and conflict resolution are just a few examples. These are skills that will directly translate to the workforce later.