Learning in the 21st Century

I always find that keeping prolonged attention in the classroom is a difficult task. One of the best tools I have found for keeping classes engaged over extended periods of time is the concept of a break break. Brain Breaks are simple 1-2 minute mind and body challenges that release focus for a short period time to allow for longer more productive periods of learning. Credit to the Website  http://brainbreaks.blogspot.co.za/  as a lot of the material below is just reinterpreted for my context. Pen Flipping Brain Break: Use the following steps: 1. Stand Up. 2. Take a pen and flip it ONE REVOLUTION. (Imagine a piece of tape on one end of the pen, then throw the pen from the tape side. Have the pen go one full turn around to get to the tape side again) 3. Now do the same thing with your other hand. 4. Now get a pen for both hands and try to do both pens at the same time. 5. If you really are good at that, then try to throw the pens up into the air and catch them...

Introduction At the beginning of this year I tried out a new way of discussing and defining my classroom Rules with my learners. It was by no means perfect, but it felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the top down heavy authoritative processes I had used before. The purpose of this post is just to define the basics of what I did and to open the concept up to other teachers so it can be further refined through collaborative discussion. Below is a brief description of how the process works. Learning Goal Using collaborative discussion and negotiation to create a set of rules for the classroom that everyone believes are in their best interest to abide by. Learning Materials Two different colour post it notes, whiteboard, board markers. Method Ask students to think about what  they feel are the DO’s & DONT’s of a successful learning space. Then hand out 3 post it notes of each colour. Define one colour for DO’s and another for DONT’s. Then ask the students ...