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Throughout this course, 21st century teaching was often on the forefront, tying in together three main components by Fullan (2012), “Technology, Pedagogy, and Change Knowledge”. These three components are some keys to being a successful teacher in the 21st century. These components go hand-in-hand with creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication. The book Stratosphere by Michael Fullen written in 2012, was truly an eye-opening experience for me while reading. I often found myself nodding in agreement with his statements and examples, but also questioning how I can use this knowledge in my own classroom. “This book is about how the ideas embedded in the new technology, the new pedagogy, and the new change knowledge are converging to transform education for all” (Fullen, 2012, p. 3).

As educators, how do we combine all of these components in the classroom, physical or digital, in order to create a well-rounded, human being?

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Not only do we need to focus on these main concepts, but the idea that learning has changed, and students need more choice, and understand why they are learning something. Students also need to be engaged in their own self-taught learning, and teachers should be the facilitator, rather than just a deliverer of outcomes. Couros (2015), did much research on this. He stated that it’s not just about incentives with learning, but “if people don’t understand why we are learning something, it will not stick” (Couros, 2015, Para. 4). He also posed a very important question, “If there is no ownership over our own learning, how deep will we really go?” (Couros, 2015, Para. 4).

Morris (2014) has also stated that "Pedagogy asks us to never teach by rote: never assume the use of a podium, or an overhead projector, or desks situated in rows, or a chalkboard, or walls" (Morris, 2014, para. 2).

Throughout all of these readings, it is clear that 21st century learning has to be student-centred, teacher facilitated, and group learning has to happen. Teachers need to feel confident in teaching through online learning, since COVID pandemic has affected our schools. If teachers do not feel confident, then the students will be affected. So how do we help educators feel confident in this delivery of outcomes? In the following sections, I introduce and speak about Google Classroom. This is an effective tool for online learning, and can be an option to teachers, students and parents around the globe!

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Google Classroom is a digital platform to connect teachers, students and parents while at home or in the physical classroom. Since COVID-19 has began in 2020, the classrooms have changed and we need to adapt, both as educators and learners.

I have learned from this course that technology is not as effective if you just use it for the sake of it being a reward, or free time. Technology has to be implemented properly, and students have to understand the pedagogy behind it! Not only students, but teachers need to understand what their goals are with integrating technology as well.

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Getting Started with Google Classroom 2020 Edition

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Please click on PDF to read my Action Plan to implement Google Classroom.

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I have often thought about the benefits of technology in our classrooms. Now more than ever, we need technology to lean on for communication and learning with our distance education initiatives through a global pandemic. Here are some benefits:

1. The Power of Technology: Technology is not just a 'free-time' gadget, it can be much more than that. "People now will pay much more attention to it as they will experience its power" (Alphonso, 2020, para. 5). Teachers will be able to implement lessons, research, virtual classes, collaborative sessions, and check-in with students daily via Google Classroom. Students will be able to learn via apps, videos, tutorials and be much more engaged.

2. School Anytime:
Students will be able to view content or lesson anytime. According to Richardson (2015), "87% of millennials say “My smartphone never leaves my side, day or night" (para. 8). This means that they will be able to connect to their classroom 24-7.

3. World-Wide Collaboration:
Learning online will enable the teacher and students to collaborate with different schools and students from around the areas, districts, or even the world.  Richardson (2017) speaks about this, "Building relationships with others to pose and solve problems collaboratively and cross-culturally" (p. 26).

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Upon watching this video, and researching and understanding Michael Fullan's point of view of education, I thought this video would be appropriate to show, as it is powerful. As much as technology is a positive, it most certainly has challenges and barriers.

1. Lack of Social-Emotional Connections:
Online learning and teaching will lack this naturally, as the student and teacher will not be able to connect in person if learning is 100% online. Alphonso (2020), states "Now, more than ever, kids, especially younger vulnerable kids with emotional or learning difficulties who are in stressed-out families, need to see and hear their teachers as part of their distance experience" (Para. 10).

2. Accessibility to Technology and WIFI:
This barrier will be apparent in all schools, as not all families will be able to provide their children with the proper technology resources. Also, some families will not have WIFI or internet at their home either. This will create an unfair advantage for those students.

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We as educators, will have to work and collaborate with several districts and government to make sure these barriers are discussed as they can form major disadvantages for a larger population of our students.

1. Lack of Social-Emotional Connections:
Teachers will have to meet with parents online, or students more often if they need the emotional connection made. Teachers can aid parents in helping them decipher strategies to help emotional connections. Some students will require in person connections, and if the classrooms are done as a hybrid of learning, students who need to be in the classroom will be chosen first to go in. Some students would rather online only, and this is okay. Again this is a form of choice for the student.

2. Accessibility to Technology and WIFI: Alphonso (2020), discussed this as Ontario are dealing with this issue at the moment. "Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce said late last week that his government is working with school boards “to ensure the necessary technology is provided to everyone who needs it” should school closings be extended beyond two weeks in the province" (Alphonso, 2020, para. 11). Each province will deal with this barrier differently, but most provinces have been providing technology to students who cannot afford it.

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Hugging Hucky - COVID Affect on our Children - First Hug Since COVID Shutdown Will Make You Cry

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Throughout this journey of technology and education, and being able to implement Google Classroom in all grade levels, I have learned that there are several components to think about and many of them involve collaboration, critical thinking, and communication. Although we are educators, we cannot forget that we often, need to feel confident in technology and pedagogy, and know that we can change these children, online or not. Google Classroom is an excellent platform to communicate on via web, but there are other forms as well. If we collaborate and learn from one another, teaching remotely WILL become easier, it's just a matter of time before we are confident enough to pursue this full time. A world wide pandemic has forced us into it much quicker than expected, but this is the way 21st century learning is progressing!

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Please click on PDF to see the list of references used for images, videos and articles.