The 21st Century classroom no longer teaches stand alone core subjects. All areas of learning have been integrated in ways that allow the students to demonstrate their knowledge through performance based learning experiences. Inquiry-based learning is a part of the 21st Century skills. It encourages critical thinking, problem solving, communication, engagement in their own learning, and the ability to discover for themselves the "big" questions in life.
The "big ideas" or "essential questions" that need to be answered by students guide their learning experiences, but they still allow them the freedom to discover for themselves.
"What is matter?" is an essential question in physical science, but can also find itself being answered in all facets of science. Matter is the basic unit of all things living and nonliving. Students can have this "big idea" presented at the beginning of the academic year, and it can slowly be answered as different units of science are introduced. The overarching idea can be placed in an obvious location that allows students to add their own answers to the question as they discover them.
One tool that will allow the students to move into the 21st century in science would be to develop a blog or a wiki. This tool will allow them to the freedom to communicate with each other about their discoveries, as well as communicate with others globally.
As students begin to research the molecular structure of matter, I would pose a question on the blog or wiki that they would have to respond to after researching. The question would be presented in a way that would require research or hypothesizing. Students would be asked to post their hypothesis to the site and then would move to the testing component. Students would then again blog about their results and whether or not their hypothesis was valid or faulty. This will spur the discussion and the discovery process.
Blogging also allows the students to interact with other students and collaborate with them during the discovery process.
The largest challenge that may occur would be access to the appropriate amount of technology. We have limited amounts of laptops, and so making sure that they are accessible on a daily basis to the students would be the most difficult aspect.
http://www.acps.k12.va.us/curriculum/design/science.php
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=12771&page=61
http://www.21stcenturyschools.com/What_is_21st_Century_Education.htm
