This document summarizes a presentation by Maria Narciso and Samantha Morra from Montclair Public Schools about creating a 21st century classroom. It describes how they transformed a classroom based on a vision of flexible, technology-enabled learning. They removed traditional desks and installed movable furniture, computers, interactive whiteboards, and other technologies. This created a technology learning commons to engage students in skills like digital literacy, media authoring, and collaboration through projects like digital storytelling and video production. The project required planning, funding, construction, and staff training to fully realize the new learning environment.

1. NJ Techspo 2011
Creating The 21st Century
Classroom
Montclair Public Schools
Montclair, New Jersey
Presenters
Maria Narciso & Samantha Morra

2. Montclair Public Schools
Maria Narciso
District Supervisor of Technology
Samantha Morra
Technology Teacher/School Technology Coordinator

4. Montclair Public Schools
7 elementary, 3 middle, 1 high school
17% Free and reduced lunch
50% Minority population
6800 students, 1000 staff
Glenfield Middle School
School of Visual & Performing Arts
680 students
Montclair State University
ADP Center – Classrooms of the Future

5. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
National Technology Plan
• 1.0 Learning All learners will have engaging and empowering learning
experiences both in and outside of school that prepare them to be active,
creative, knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked
society.
• 2.0 Assessment Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of
technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous
improvement.
• 3.0 Teaching Professional educators will be supported individually and in
teams by technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise,
and learning experiences that enable and inspire more effective teaching for all
learners.
• 4.0 Infrastructure All students and educators will have access to a
comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it.
• 5.0 Productivity Our education system at all levels will redesign processes and
structures to take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning
outcomes while making more efficient use of time, money, and staff.

6. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Framework for 21st Century Learning from The Partnership for 21st Century Skills

7. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Initial Vision
A visit to Montclair State University
and a tour of their ADP center and
“Classrooms of the Future”

8. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Initial Vision
Dr. Alvarez’s Initial Request:
Create a classroom of the future as a
model for the district
The baton is handed to
Samantha Morra, School Technology Coordinator

9. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Initial Vision
Classroom of the Future
21st Century Learning Environment

10. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Technology Timeline
THE Journal, November/December 2010

11. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Initial Vision
Design a 21st century learning environment to
engage students and develop active learners
who can communicate, collaborate and create
in the digital age.

12. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Initial Vision
What is a 21st century learning environment?
What does it look like?
Flexibility
Mobility
Versatility
“Pedagogy is not driven by the furniture layout.”
Student driven learning
Collaboration area for staff
Training area for district staff
Training area for MSU
Meeting area for district and school organizations

13. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Initial Vision
Where?

14. Creating the 21st Century Classroom

15. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Core
s on meeting New Jersey
This classroom will focu century
ndards and building 21st
Curriculum Content Sta how to think critically, a
pply
know
skills. They will have to ation,
knowledge to new si tuations, analyze inform te,
mmunic ate effectively, collabora
u nderstand new ideas, co ions. They also need to b
e
e decis
solve problems, and mak vity,
st co nsumers. High producti
creators of content not ju e
dia authoring and interactiv
digital literacy, multime l ensure that our students
that wil
ommunication are skills and
c
f tech nology to become active
can leverage the power o
successful citizens.

16. Creating the 21st Century Classroom

17. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Classroom of the Future
21st Century Learning Environment
Technology Learning Commons

18. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Summer & Fall Planning
2008 Financial Appropriations
Winter & Spring
Approvals
2008
Summer 2009 Construction
Spring 2010 Completion

19. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Rationale:
Change the way instruction
is delivered and learning is empowered
Students as creators of content not just
consumers

20. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Capitol Budget, Technology Plan

21. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Out with the old...

22. Creating the 21st Century Classroom

23. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
In with the new...

24. Creating the 21st Century Classroom

25. Creating the 21st Century Classroom

26. Creating the 21st Century Classroom

27. Creating the 21st Century Classroom

28. Creating the 21st Century Classroom

29. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Staff/Student Introduction
Curriculum Design
Scheduling
Maintenance
Staff Development

30. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Digital Storytelling
Students as creators of content not just consumers.

31. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Creating Games in Scratch
Students as creators of content not just consumers.

32. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
TV Production
Students as creators of content not just consumers.

33. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Video Conference

34. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Handheld Devices

35. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Skype

36. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Interactive

37. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Personal Response Systems

38. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Financial Literacy Summer Program

39. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Financial Literacy Summer Program

40. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Financial Literacy Summer Program
Authentic Learning

41. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
Implications for the District
HS Global Studies (Montclair Rocks)
HS Science
Cosmic Studies Lab
Integration of the iPad
Staff Development

42. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Classroom Close-Up
http://bcove.me/zltg25qw

43. Creating the 21st Century Classroom
The Real Work Begins
Remembering What it is Really About

44. NJ Techspo 2011
Creating The 21st Century
Classroom
Montclair Public Schools
Montclair, New Jersey
Presenters
Maria Narciso & Samantha Morra