The 21st Century Science Classroom

Rommel C. Balaoing

The advent of the science classroom of the 21st century marked significant shifts in learner characteristics. The importance of changing classroom characteristics goes hand in hand.

Teachers are facilitators of student learning in the 21st century classroom, and designers of positive classroom environments where students can develop the skills they need in the workplace.

The 21st century classroom 's emphasis is on learners experiencing the environment they will be joining as professionals. The interactive project-based program used in the classroom is improving higher order thinking skills, good communication skills and technology awareness that students will need in the marketplace of the 21st century.

The interdisciplinary design of the classroom of the 21st century sets this apart from the classroom of the 20th century. In the past, lectures on a single topic at one time were the norm and today, collaboration is the thread for the learning of all students. Teaching techniques of the 20th Century are no longer successful. Teachers need to adopt modern instructional methods that are fundamentally different from those used in classrooms of the 20th century. The curriculum needs to become more applicable to what the students will encounter in the workplace of the 21st century.

Classroom of the 21st century is student-centric, not teacher-centric. Teachers are no longer working as lecturers but as learning facilitators. By doing the students learn, and the teacher works as a mentor, encouraging the students to work on projects. Students learn to use the inquiry process and communicate with others-a real-world true reflection they can encounter after they exit the classroom. Students are not learning each subject in isolation any more. Instead, they work on interdisciplinary projects using knowledge and expertise from a range of subjects and discussing a number of academic standards that are important. Textbooks are not the main source of knowledge any more. Students use various outlets, including technology, to collect and find the knowledge they need. They may be keeping papers, interviewing experts, exploring the Internet or using computer software programs to apply what they have learned or to find knowledge. Instead of being designed for special projects only, the technology is integrated effortlessly into regular teaching.

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The author is Teacher III at Marawi High School