Think about how the world has changed in the last 20 years. What will teaching and learning look like in the next 5, 10, 20+ years?

Digital Age Literacy: Basic, Scientific and Technological Literacy Visual and Information Literacy Cultural Literacy and Global Awareness

Inventive Thinking: Adaptability and Managing Complexity Curiosity, Creativity and Risk Taking Higher Order Thinking and Sound Reasoning

Effective Communication: Teaming, Collaboration and Interpersonal Skills Personal and Social Responsibility Interactive Communication

High Productivity: Prioritising, Planning and Managing Results Effective Use of Real World Tools High Quality, Meaningful Results

"Outside school they are fully engaged by their 21st Century digital lives. If educators want to have relevance in this century, it is crucial that we find ways to engage students in school." "Schools are stuck in the 20th Century. Students have rushed into the 21st Century. How can schools catch up and provide students with a relevant education?'

My question Was my present teaching practice relevant, engaging and empowering for the students that I taught? Would changes to my practice improve the quality of learning of my students? How should I change and improve my practice?

How it is conducted It is a cycle of posing questions, planning and implementing the action, observing and recording, reflecting, and deciding on a next course of action.

The outcomes INITIAL SURVEY Students wanted their learning to be. Useful and fun 22 Interesting 11 Relevant 18 Easy 6 Free timetable 22 Choice 20 Teacher support and scaffolding 21 Just in time learning 3 Other aspects Relevant learning Independent learning Less bookwork More integration of ICT Reference to current events Exciting

How I changed my practice Introduced weekly task monitoring sheet Integration of ICT into all aspects of learning Introduced an open timetable for part or all of the day Student choice became a high priority Choice and variety of spaces to work in and groupings Included ‘why’ in the learning intention, focus on reflection and metacognition metacognition Weekly self-reflection of teaching techniques and strategies with critical colleague critical colleague Time management Time management Less teacher talk Less teacher talk Weekly student reflection sheets giving the students voice

Summary of students’ reflections o Happy with open timetable choices o Learning was more interesting and fun, useful and relevant o Enjoyed individualized learning time o Enjoyed the variety of learning spaces o Empowered o Heightened level of engagement and completion of tasks o Able to articulate their learning and thinking o ICT rich environment o Student voice heard and acknowledged o 4 students felt that there had been no changes to their learning or my teaching practice learning or my teaching practice o 6 students said that their suggestions had not been implemented

Student’s reflections Does your teacher allow you to be involved in the decision making and management of your learning? How does your teacher teach?

Student’s reflections What would you like your teacher to teach? What would you like your learning to look like?

 Reflect on and modify practice  Grow professionally  Gain knowledge through professional reading  Share knowledge and skills with colleagues More effective communication with colleagues and students.  Empowered to make informed decisions  Bridges the gap between professional development and actual practice  Improves ICT knowledge and integration  Ongoing professional development and implementation  Reflect on and modify practice  Grow professionally  Gain knowledge through professional reading  Share knowledge and skills with colleagues More effective communication with colleagues and students.  Empowered to make informed decisions  Bridges the gap between professional development and actual practice  Improves ICT knowledge and integration  Ongoing professional development and implementation Benefits of Action Research

“Built into action research is the proviso that, if as a teacher I am dissatisfied with what is going on, I will have the confidence and resolution to attempt to change it. I will not be content with the status quo…” - Jean McNiff “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” - Alvin Toffler

1We live in a new and very different world, one that is constantly recreating and redefining itself. 2Changing our practice is absolutely essential if our children are to be properly prepared for the world. 3We need to be teachers who will teach the new skills that will be necessary to prepare students for the new world. 4The challenge is for teachers, principals, parents to change their rear-view mirror mentality when it comes to what schools and learning should be. 5It’s not a matter of throwing technology at the problem, it is more about changes that teachers need to make in their practice. The issue is not a hard-ware issue. It is a head-ware issue.