21st Century Teachers

21st century teachers are expected to know more about technology than ever before. Since
the world seems to come up with a new invention every three seconds, it is vital for a teacher to
know about technology and be digitally literate. Although this concept of being digitally literate
is not commonly known, it is important for every teacher to understand. Also, there are 21st
century skills that need to be known before understanding digital literacy.
First, the six skills that are needed to be digitally literate are problem solving, creativity,
analytical thinking, collaboration, communication, ethics and accountability. These are all
generally seen in the classroom but not typically seen using technology. An example of applying
these skills with technology is using a collaboration exercise where a student would be asked to
communicate with their partner who is overseas using video calling. These skills also fall into
separate groups where more than one skill can be used in a specific activity. These categories are
ways of thinking, working, and living in the world. All of these skills have been proven to be the
most important skills to have in the 21st century and should be developed in each classroom using
technology to further students digital literacy.
If one is not digitally literate they will have trouble teaching students the 21st century
skills that need to be known to have a good job in the future. Because conventional methods
were used to teach skills of the past, a teacher who is not literate will not know the proper way to
teach these new skills. A teacher who does not understand the importance of being digitally
literate will have trouble connecting with their students and allowing them to use their known
skills with technology in the classroom.
The ISTE Teacher standards are a roadmap for teachers to develop skills to teach 21st
century skills because it forces teachers to involve technology in their classroom. These
standards are incorporated to facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity, design and
develop digital age learning experiences and assessments, model digital age work and learning,
promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility, and to engage in professional growth
and leadership. This standards are required for each teacher and are a roadmap for me because it
gives me goals to achieve as I am teaching my classroom so that I can reach each standard for
the ISTE.
Today there is so much more emphasis on using technology in the classroom that before
because 99.9% of the time technology will end up being used in their later careers. If students are
expected to use technology in the work field, why would teachers deprive them of practicing
their skills in the classroom where mistakes can be made? I do believe that there are limitations
for technology in the classroom because there are skills that need to be learned using human
interactions. In general, the push for using technology in the classroom is a good thing so that
students can be more successful later in life when they are deciding their career paths.