21st Century Learners

21st  Century Learner Reflections

       We have left the 20th Century where students sat passively at their desk listening to the teacher lecture all day. They learned how to read, write, and effectively communicate ideas. These are important still today, but the way in which students learn has changed because of all the technological advances that have occurred. Students no longer are required to just read a book and accept and memorize what it says. Today, students are to actively become engaged in the content to understand how things work and why.

       Today, 21st Century learning is about preparing teachers to actively engage students to use their learning and innovation skills through digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem solving. Students are grasping these skills through collaboration and inquiry-based learning using technology that will encourage children to learn. The purpose of using technology is to prepare students for what lies ahead after graduation in our technological driven society. Teachers are no longer the main source for information but only the filter.  Teachers now are leading students to learn how to  understand and validate the information that they are being bombarded on the internet with Facebook, Twitter, Skype, cell phones, You Tube, newspaper, television, etcetera. Students are encouraged to ask questions and then shown how to find the solutions to their queries by actively participating in activities that incorporate technology.
 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdueiwUaNRA

 Rethinking Learning: The 21st Century Learner/MacArthur Foundation Video

 

       The main subjects for the 21st Century learner that students are to master are English, reading or language arts, World languages,Arts, Mathematics, Economics, Science, Geography, History, and Government, and Civics.Learning and Innovations skills creativity and innovation, critical and problem solving, communication  and collaboration.

       One aspect of creativity that is encouraged in 21st Century students is an idea creation technique called brain storming. Students are encouraged to create original and fresh ides of both incremental and radical concepts. Students will increase and improve their creative genius when they elaborate, refine, analyze their original ideas. When students work creatively with others they develop, implement and communicate new ideas.    

      Students are to learn  through teamwork with other students as teachers lead the students to plan, research, and introduce their presentations and projects. The use  of computers does not mean everything will go smoothly as computers do malfunction. Teachers must continually assess each student's individual learning to examine deficiencies that may exist in his or her teaching approach. Students should be taught to be patient with others and with his or her self. Working together as a team to solve a problem is a positive learning experience that will follow the students all their lives.

Informative link on 21st Century Learners:

http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework

References:

Framework for the 21st Century Learner
     http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-frameworkCharacteristics of the 21st Century Learner
     http://5501spr11.wikispaces.com      
     /Characteristics+of+the+21st+Century+Learner

21st Century Clip Art:
     http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.educatednation.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/GW333H324.jpeg&imgrefurl=http://educ2110hooper.wiki.westga.edu/Elea%2BFaulknor&h=324&w=333&sz=48&tbnid=bmg8WXld5WnPBM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=94&zoom=1&usg=__reLgQxpmNto2CrVQYtwb0hbmg-s=&docid=smC5XPHBKyDQ3M&sa=X&ei=Qw9NUJOTFois8ATY74DwDQ&ved=0CE8Q9QEwBQ&dur=382

Flexible Learning Paths,Clip Art:
            http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=36T&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1600&bih=1054&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=MhEfviFu1G3ZrM:&imgrefurl=http://anydel.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/digital-differentiation-cool-tools-for-21st-century-learners/&docid=PnfN2MBt31LtkM&imgurl=http://img.scoop.it/V2GdlTDe8WChKkTy0IC9XDl72eJkfbmt4t8yenImKBXEejxNn4ZJNZ2ss5Ku7Cxt&w=500&h=464&ei=t_NMULmfAob89QSMxYC4DA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1047&vpy=522&dur=392&hovh=207&hovw=223&tx=104&ty=137&sig=115780788475162239442&page=2&tbnh=165&tbnw=178&start=35&ndsp=40ved=1t:429,r:37,s:35,i:307