Northwest Regional Comprehensive Center

Preparing teachers for the 21st century requires a close look at what it means to teach and learn in increasingly networked, technology-rich, digital classrooms. Schools and teachers need to thoughtfully and intentionally design learning environments and tasks in which teachers can explore issues that are relevant and develop pedagogies that are effective for a knowledge era. They need to develop new images and acquire new expertise to design and facilitate meaningful learning with technology. Given this shift in our world and the new research from the learning sciences, one can see the complexity that teachers face in working with learners in the 21st century. Based on a selective examination of the research literature, this paper by the Canadian Education Association, presents a set of principles and strategies about effective teaching and learning in light of these new conditions.