Table 3
The Differences between Traditional Classroom Settings and Twenty-Century
Classrooms
20 th Century Classroom 21 st Century Classroom
Time-based Out-come based
Focus on memorization of discrete facts Focus on what students, KNOW, CAN
DO and ARE LIKE after all details are
forgotten
Lessons focus on lower level of Bloom’s
Taxonomy: recall, comprehension and
application
Learning is designed on upper level of
Bloom’s Taxonomy: synthesis and
evaluation
Text-book driven/fragmented curriculum Research driven/integrated curriculum
Learners work in isolation-classroom
within four walls
Learners work collaboratively with
classmates and others around the world-
the Global Classroom
Teacher-centered: teacher is provider of
information
Student-centered: teacher is facilitator
and coach
Little or no student choice and freedom Great deal of choice and freedom
Discipline problems-educators do not
trust students, and vice versa-no student
motivation
Minimal discipline problems-students
have mutually respectful relationship as
co-learners making them motivated
Low expectations High expectations/rigorous activities
65
Teacher is only judge Self, peer and authentic
assessments/public audiences
School curriculum is irrelevant Curriculum is connected to students’
interests, experiences, talents and real
world
Print is primary vehicle of learning Multiple forms of media are used for
learning
Literacy in the basic content areas Multiple literacies for 21 st century-
aligned to living and working in a
globalized millennium
Note: Adapted from 21st Century Schools Organization (2008)