Design and Experimentation of Digital Classroom for 21st -Century in Secondary Schools

Abstract

In this article, the design and experimentation of a technology-enhanced classroom branded as Classe21 are discussed. The project, which was carried out in four secondary schools in the Republic of Mauritius intended to examine the impact of innovative and creative pedagogies in the classrooms of tomorrow. Classe21, expected to be a concept classroom for innovative pedagogies that would equip schools with tools that are required to succeed in imparting 21st -century skills to the digital natives. It integrated technological, cognitive, pedagogical, and organizational aspects that would adequately prepare schools, educators, and students as a community to thrive in this information age. Classe21 proposed to offer the facilities and resources so that the teacher metamorphoses into a skilled ‘technology-using educator’. Implementing such a learning environment has been made through proper use of hardware and software, adequate support and training to educators and students, and a robust technological environment to sustain the initiative. The ecosystem put in place provided a whole range of creative and collaborative options that yielded new teaching and learning patterns. The study revealed that this paradigm shift brought in the classroom the right enthusiasm and atmosphere to enhance the acquisition of 21st -century skills by learners thereby inculcating in them the necessary talents that the job market requires