“Breaking the Mould: Unleashing the Powers of
Students in the 21st Century”
Students growing up in the 21st century are being educated in a world that is very different from their parents or grandparents generation. In 2011, our world is increasingly interconnected, digitally-driven, media saturated, and plagued with social and environmental issues. Our society hungers for innovation, efficiency, and critical thinking skills. As a result, students of the 21st century face demands to be multitaskers, networkers, integrators, and global leaders.
In light of these demands, the education system today is changing as educators seek to leave behind the 20th century model of education – one that is individually tasked based rather than an integration of educational components, teacher-centered rather than student-centered, textbook-based rather than project-based, and a “one-size-fits-all” approach rather than an approach that meets the diverse needs of students. This change responds to the gap between teaching and learning that occurs when schooling becomes increasingly irrelevant and inadequate for the experiences of 21st century learners.
The Queen’s Conference on Education 2012 aims to be a catalyst to this transformation by introducing to future educators strategies to “re-invent” teaching to deliver 21st century learning skills. Our theme “Breaking the Mould: Unleashing the Powers of Students in the 21st Century” calls on our conference delegates to think critically about how the dynamic and ever-changing world is forcing educators to adjust their approach to education. Our workshop presenters this year focus on major 21st century learning themes such as media literacy, “Green Education”, integrated technology, and project-based curriculum. Moreover, QCE 2012 will explore contemporary challenges of 21st century education such as bullying, multicultural education, and mental health awareness. In addition to workshops, QCE 2012 will provide two keynote presentations, a teacher resource fair, and a banquet to provide further opportunities for delegates to share experiences, ideas, and passions for teaching and learning.
We truly hope that the 2012 Queen’s Conference on Education will provide an enriching experience for all our delegates and will heighten their interest in the rewarding and fascinating field of education.
