Seems like an odd combination in the title until you spend the time to realize the goals teachers are trying to realize in full day kindergarten are the pedagogical structures we need to land in all classrooms, K - 12, to make 21st century learning a reality.
Many confuse 21st century learning with the use of technology in the classroom. Technology is an important tool of 21st century learning, but it is only a tool. 21st century learning is about giving voice to student wonders, it is about allowing children the opportunity to discover, create and innovate while skillfully ensuring that all of the curriculum watermarks are being met. Sound impossible?? Just visit your local kindergarten class.
In one of my schools the kindergarten teacher thought she would guide the student inquiry for Spring so she took the children outside to look at the grass, the budding trees and the flowers beginning to pop their heads through the soil. She waited with anticipation to see the enthusiasm on the faces of her children as they discovered the growth of new plant life around them. Instead of being fascinated by nature, one little child stuck his head over a grate in the street and said to his teacher, "What is this?" The sewer unit was born.
In that classroom 4 and 5 year olds are learning about sewers, the use of sewers and how sewers are built. They are writing, drawing, counting, taking pictures and bringing in guest speakers from the City to learn all about sewers. The Principal drew the line at letting them go down into the sewers but their fascination continues to grow. This is 21st century learning in action.
In this situation the teacher is playing the role of what Fullan calls "the activator," asking questions, encouraging questions and providing opportunities for the children to learn more. She has them use a variety of ways to display their learning and she encourages them to reach for a level of excellence modelled by the exemplars on the wall. Words the children need for their sewer inquiry are added to the word wall, and the children use the iPads to watch videos all about sewers. By the time this unit is over these kids will be ready to be sewer engineers and they will have demonstrated the proficiencies in literacy and numeracy their teacher was hoping to see.
Engagement and focus aren't issues in this classroom and technology is used effectively to support and demonstrate learning.
Collaborative inquiry in the upper grades will be more sophisticated and the use of technology more advanced but hopefully the rigour, the engagement and the focus demonstrated by this little group of 4 and 5 years olds will be replicated in every 21st century learning environment K - 12.
