Page 60 - EducationWorld January 2023

Teacher-2-Teacher

Transitioning to agile

classrooms

JESSICA CAVALLARO

UR CURRENT EDUCATION SYSTEM WAS de- The agile classroom is built on
signed during the first industrial revolution (1760-
1820). In that era, the general public was largely the foundation of people, process,
Ouneducated, unable to read and knowledge was collaboration and problem-solving
in short supply. If you wanted to learn about the world,
history, math and science, someone needed to collate that through practice of 21st century skills
information and present it to you.
With knowledge stuffed into books, which were not read- to keep our students engaged. Therefore, we must shift our
ily available to most, lessons needed to be memorised to focus. Content is important, but it is not the most important
hold forever. Accessing information wasn’t easy and most element of learning. Education needs a shift to student-
people didn’t have the time. Knowledge needed to be mem- focused learning in which children interact with content,
orised to be applied later. Time in school was short and find ways to apply it through practice of 21st century skills.
therefore, pacing of the curriculum needed to be controlled. Therefore, the agile classroom is built on the founda-
The teacher’s job was to control the flow of information with tion of people, process, collaboration, and problem-solving.
students learning passively, expected to absorb as much as By integrating the values and principles of agility into the
possible because tomorrow they might have to start work- classroom, students build their own learning teams. They
ing. break down large projects into smaller tasks. They priori-
The needs of contemporary students are radically dif- tise tasks, collectively determine their pace, and set mu-
ferent from those of past generations. Through leaps in tually agreed milestones to complete assigned projects. In
technology, we have access to all human history at our fin- sum, they learn skills that adults use in professional and
gertips. We can look up random facts, dates, and unrelated business workplaces. With small changes, education can
trivia. High-performing artificial intelligence (AI) can do become purposive and meaningful and bring value back
the rote jobs that bore us, and is quickly taking over more into classrooms.
complex tasks. What was considered ‘educated’ in the past he numerous benefits children derive apart, teaching
— memorisation and rote execution of tasks — is not what Tbecomes easier and better. In agile classrooms, teachers
students need to navigate an increasingly ambiguous and continue to plan and scaffold, but instead of controlling the
complex future. flow of information as in a traditional classroom, they be-
Evolution that has transformed every segment of soci- come facilitators of learning. Lesson planning is as before,
ety has largely by-passed education. Generally speaking, but the difference is teachers don’t stand in front transmit-
schools still function as they did in the past. In any country, ting the daily plan of managing students’ behaviour and
you can walk into classrooms where students are at desks, trying to differentiate.
passively taking notes. Students are still taking recall-based Instead work, rubrics, videos, and resources are provided
standardised tests as a measurement of ‘education’. Not to students at the start. Students break down the work, stu-
much has changed in this sphere even though so much has dents control the flow, and take assessments when ready.
changed in the world. Teachers are able to move around the room working with
Several paradigm shifts have occurred in the past few small groups, having authentic conversations, and support-
decades. We are experiencing a technological revolution ing students, one-on-one if necessary. Thus teachers are en-
moving at hyperspeed in the past few years. The majority abled to invest their passion in the classroom, because they
of the world is online, with people working in diverse teams can truly teach. Repetitive test prep lectures that drained
in different time zones. The change is not just in the way them are no longer on the daily agenda. They are replaced
we work. Work that needs to be completed has changed with genuine interactions, real learning, and relationship
as well. With AI growing more intelligent, jobs that can be building. Agile classrooms are student-driven. Therefore
completed by following directions or through rote memori- the teacher supports, facilitates, and enables deeper un-
sation are being automated. The Dell Corporation estimates derstanding. They can enjoy their jobs while their students
that 85 percent of the jobs that our students will do have benefit from real learning.
not even been created yet. The world has evolved. We must bring new growth mind-
To truly prepare students for the uncertain future, we
need to focus on keeping up with the evolving landscape. sets and adaptive ways of learning into the K-12 education
model. While this sounds like a dream, it is being done in
This means equipping children with skills that are transfer- classrooms around the world. The time for action is now.
able, flexible, and adaptive. For children spending 12 years Our students — and teachers — deserve it.
in school, it is our responsibility to provide them with the
tools necessary to succeed in the world that awaits them. (Jessica Cavallaro is co-founder of The Agile Mind. Adapted from
As teachers, we must be ready to answer their questions Intrepid Ed News (USA), www.intrepidednews.com)

60 EDUCATIONWORLD JANUARY 2023