The prospects for teaching and learning in the 21st Century for public education to truly survive in the 21st Century, “we will need to make some adjustments in our efforts at reform” (Simmons, 2001), in our philosophy, politically and in teaching. How schools are structured has complicated our attempts at innovation. The relationship between knowledge and power, within the social and political contexts of our schools, has placed burdensome external controls on teachers, controls ranging from excessive regulation to massive testing.
Current policies that focus on national testing and national standards are too narrow. There is no one approach that can work for all teachers. “Our testing and standards policies must take into account the many diverse learning styles in our population” (Macedo, 2004).
Teacher’s presuppositions commonly prevent them from thinking effectively about educational issues and from committing ourselves to equity and excellence for all. Teachers must put an end to deficit terminology and labeling. Terms like at-risk marginalize kids into categories and make assumptions about their learning capabilities that aren't true.
In the school of the 21st Century, teachers have to challenge traditional approaches to teaching and learning by modeling a collaborative form of practitioner inquiry. Teachers are to encourage students to question answers and to express their own viewpoints. They have to provide ways for students to participate in the discourse that shapes their lives. Curiosity, industry, and imagination should be encouraged and rewarded.
Teachers are more autonomy and the ability to create exciting educational experiences for students. By encouraging democratic dialogue among educators, “they can empower students” (Haywood, 2003). They can excel in the new century if they function as a community of scholars, engaging in collaborative diagnostic and problem-solving work to create alternative approaches for designing tasks and assessing activities.
Teacher’s reflection is considered an important......
