Review article and provide viewpoints on the extend teachers role has changed.

Discuss the impact of the changing role as seen in the present classroom.
TEE KIM HUI

The army is on the frontline of the battlefield to protect the nation. Teachers
are comparable to this analogy, in the context of education to impart knowledge to
the young generation. As we move further into the new millennium, it becomes clear
that the 21st century classroom needs are very different from the 20 th century
classroom needs. In the 21st century, teachers roles are changing (Teaching in the
21st century, 2008). According to Silva (2008), teachers are facilitators of students
learning and creators of productive classroom environments in which students can
develop the skills they will need in the workplace. The 21 st century teacher creates
and maintains intentional relationships with students, parents and colleagues for the
sake of tomorrows success. In this 21 st centurys new perspective on teaching and
learning, it is necessary to open a new window for thinking about how 21 st century
skills and standards impact these traditional teaching roles (Silva, 2008). The goal is
to make these roles relevant for todays evolving learning needs. To a larger extend, I
would agree that the teachers roles have to change in order to cater 21 st century
teaching and learning as mentioned in the article by Dr. Brad Johnson and Tammy
Maxson McElroy. In this review too, the impact of the changing role in present
classroom will be discussed.

Students today live digitally every day (Sonia, 2016). The use of internet, text
messaging, social networking, and multimedia is widely flowing in their lives outside
of school and they expect a parallel level of technology opportunity in their academic
lives. With easy access of all those electronic Medias and devices, as teachers, we
were not data dumping among the student. According to David (2009), there is a
disconnect between the school learning environment with the real world. For
example, a teacher who is still using chalk and talk method in the classroom with
only teaching solely based on the textbooks will not increase the interest of the 21 st
century generation in learning. As the generation in 21 st century, they can easily
access to any information that they want to. Closing the gap is the challenge for
teachers who carry out a teaching and learning. The change of a teacher to be
technology designer for learning will bring more impacts to the students especially
reducing the gap which will affect the students interest in learning. For instance, the
using of motion graphic organizers, Power Point slides, videos, controlled games
and more to integrate in teaching and learning will grab more attention from students
in learning. These kinds of integrations encourage students to be independent
learners. By using these technologies on a topic for example, students need to have
prior understanding by doing some discovery learning through surfing the knowledge
instead of spoon-feeding knowledge by the teacher. Teachers will need to be more
active as compare to passive previously in order to be well prepared and well
planned on interactive activities for the students.

Teachers are no longer teaching in isolation (Sharon & Bruce, 2013). They
now co-teach, team teach, and collaborate with other departments. For example, the
practice of peer teaching in teacher training institute has its purposes. One to
improve the quality of teaching and learning and the following is to encourage
communication and interaction within people especially in the same affair. No one is
an island and two heads are better than one. By doing this, the relationship will
indirectly encourage one individual teacher to interact with other teachers in order to
develop positive and supportive school community. The role change in teacher will
affect the effectiveness of teaching and learning in 21 st century classrooms. It cannot
be denied that the communication is the core in building a good relationship between
colleagues (Porges & Stephen, 2011). It is also a powerful aspect in order to
cultivate relationship between the parents. Teachers should be more understanding
and being a good communicator especially with the parents in this context. An
effective teacher understands 21 st century parents are different and changed
dynamically. For instance, every family and every parent have its own story. As a
teacher, teacher needs to stand on their shoes in order to achieve mutual
understanding and mutual respect for a better 21 st century teaching and learning and
bring great impact to the present classrooms.

According to Brad and Tammy (2010), the authentic relationship with the
students is particularly important because the teacher has the potential to greatly
influence the students. Teacher plays an important role in the classroom in order to
establish a conducive teaching and learning environment. Students in a conducive
learning environment are more likely to be happy (Ryan, 2013). Ahead from this, the
students are likely to be depending on the teacher. This dependant will increase the
intimacy of the teacher and students in order to mentoring the students. The change
of role from dictatorship to a more understanding person to the students, it will be a
great impact to this 21st century students where the teacher can easily access to
their world of self by listening, understanding, mentoring, encouraging and helping to
build better breed of 21st century.

To face the challenge of present times, teachers need to keep abreast of what
is happening in this affair. According to Pacific Policy Research Center (2010),
teachers are also lifelong learners where we need to be active and flexible and
incorporate the traits needed to compete in present globalized world. The need of a
generation of teachers who aim to change own self in teaching and learning and
develop learners holistically instead of data dumping is essential in the education of
the future. To quote a saying from Ivan Welton Fitzwater, I am a teacher! What I do
and say are being absorbed by young minds who will echo these images across the
ages. My lesson will be immortal, affecting people yet unborn, people I will never see
or know. The future of the world is in my classroom today, a future with the potential
for good or bad. The pliable minds of tomorrows leaders will be moulded either
artistically or grotesquely by what I do.
References

Brad, J. & Tammy M. M. (2010). The changing role of the teacher in the 21 st century.
UK: R&L Education.

David, G. P. (2009). The gap between the real world and the academic world. US:
Serendip Studio.

Pacific Policy Research Center. (2010). Research & evaluation: 21 st century skills for
students and teachers. United States: Kamehameha Schools Reseach &
Evaluation Division.

Porges & Stephen, W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations

of emotions, attachment, communication, and self-regulation. New York: W. W.
Norton & Company.

Ryan, H. (2013). The effect of classroom environment on student learning. Honors

Theses. Paper 2375. United States: Western Michigan University.

Sharon, C. & Bruce, S. C. (2013). Moving from teacher isolation to collaboration:

Enhancing professionalism and school quality. UK: R&L Education.

Silva, E. (2008). Measuring skills for the 21 st century. Washington, DC: Education
Sector.

Sonia, L. (2016). A day in the digital life of teenagers. New Zealand: Stuff
Publications.

Teaching in the 21st century. (2008). A review of the issues and changing models in
the teaching profession. Washington, DC: Blackboard Edu Views.