If there is one thing that I have learned over the last few years, it is the importance of creating a classroom environment in which my students feel comfortable taking risks. Could the fear of making mistakes impede a child's learning potential? I believe so. Looking back on my childhood, I remember how embarrassed I would feel if I shared an incorrect answer in front of the whole class, making me wish I had never raised my hand. But then, if given the opportunity to correct my work, it would open the way for me to learn from mistakes. One of the ways educators today are providing such opportunities for students to share solutions to problems and build on ideas is through collaboration, an important 21st Century learning competency. And now, they can rely on an instant, flexible whiteboard solution to create new places to collaborate in the classroom in a way that is interactive and engaging. Introducing the Post-It Dry Erase Surface.

It comes as no surprise that collaboration delivers results. When children work together in pairs or groups and have shared responsibility, they develop an interdependency that opens new learning opportunities. A Dry Erase Surface is an excellent tool that invites students to share ideas without the fear of imperfection, especially knowing that they can easily erase their work. What I love most about the Post-It Dry Erase Surface is that you can quickly and easily cover large surfaces to maximize productivity or cut it down to smaller sizes and adhere to individual student desktops as highlighted in the video above. It can also be used to re-surface whiteboards.

For review, I was sent a 4 ft x 3 ft Post-It Dry Erase Surface sample that I shared with the kindergarten teachers at my school. They used it on a large table and created an inviting space for their little ones to share their drawings. I was tempted to join in myself! There is something about holding a marker in your hand and drawing on the smooth dry-erase surface that I find entices children. I also believe that, where little hands are concerned, drawing and writing skills can be better developed when you need not worry about applying pressure, as with a pencil. A Dry-Erase Surface is a great way to encourage writing and visual expression.

This back-to-school season, Alyson Schafer, a well-known Canadian parenting and education expert, along with Post-It has compiled tips for educators and parents on how to help kids maximize productivity and creativity. Many of them seem to touch upon additional 21st Century learning skills such as communication, real-world problem solving and self-regulation.