digital learners & the 21st century teacher

The 21st Century Digital Learner

By Romulo Y. Baba Jr

Goals

•Describe 21st century learners

•Discuss how to teach the 21st century learner

The 21st century dawned as the beginning for the digital age – a time of unprecedented growth in the technology , and its subsequent information explosion . Never before have the tools for information access and management made such as impact on the way we live , work ,shop and play . New technologies , and tools multiply daily and the new technologies of today are outdated almost as soon as they reach the market.

Numerous studies and reports have emerged over he past decade that seek to indentify the daily life , carrer and the learning skills that define the skills needed for success in the 21st century world. While are some differences in how the skills are categorized or interpreted , there are also many commonalities . Common skills across most of the studies include :

1 .Creative & Innovation Using knowledge understanding to create new ways of thinking in order to find

solutions to new problems and create new products and services.

Think Creatively Use a wide range of knowledge of idea creation techniques (such as

braing storming)Create new and worthwhile ideas (both incremental and radical

concepts)Elaborate, refine, analyze ,and evaluate ideas in order to improve and

maximize creative effortsDemonstrate imagination and curiosity

Work Creatively with others

Develop , implement , and communicate new ideas to others effectively

Be open mind responsive to new and diverse perspectives : incorporate group input and feedback in to the work

Demonstrate originally and inventiveness in work and understand the real world limits to adopting new ideas

View failure as an opportunity to learn : understanding that creativity and innovation is a long term , cyclical process of small success and frequent mistakes.

Implementation Innovations

Act on creative ideas to make a tangible and useful contribution to the field in which the innovation will occur

Applying higher order thinking skill to new problems an issues , using appropriate reasoning as they effectively analyze the problem and make decisions and about the most effective was to solve the problems.

Critical Thinking and problem Solving

Reason Effectively

Use various types of reasoning ( e.g, inductive , etc ) as appropriate to the situation

Use System Thinking

Analyze how parts of a whole interact with each other to produce overall outcomes in complex system

Make Judgments and Decisions

Effective analyze and evaluate evedence , arguments , claims and beliefs

Analyze and evaluate the major alternative point of view

Synthesize and make connections between information and arguments

Interpret information and draw conclusion based on the best analysis

Reflict critically on learning experience and processes

Solve Problems

Solve Different kinds of non familiar problems in both conventional and innovative ways

Identify and task significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions

3.Communications

Communicating effectively in a wide variety of forms and context for a wide range of purposes and using multiple media and technology

Communicate Clearly

Articulate thoughts and idea effectively using oral, written , and nonverbal communication skills in variety of forms and context

Listen effectively to decipher meaning ,including knowledge , values , attitudes ,and intentions

Use communication fir a range of purpose (e.g., to inform m instruct ,motivate ,and persuade ) and diverse environments (including multi-

lingual)

Utilize multiple media and technologies , and know how to judge their effectiveness a prior as well as assess there impact.

4. Collaboration

Working with others respectfully and effectively to create , use and share knowledge solutions and innovations

Collaborate with Others

Demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams

Exercise flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary compromises to accomplish common goal Assume e shared responsibility for collaborative work and value the

individual contributions made by each team member

5.Information ManagementAccessing analyzing synthesizing creating and sharing from

multiple source.

Creating the capacity to identify the use technology efficiently , effectively and ethically as a tool to access ,

organize , evaluate and share information

7.Career and life Skills

Developing skills fir becoming self-directed ,independent learners and workers who can adapt to change , manage projects ,take responsibility

for their work , lead others and produce results

8. Cultural AwarenessDeveloping cultural competence in working with others by recognizing

and respecting cultural differences and work with others from a rage of cultural and social backgrounds.

Information Media and Technology Skills

INFORMATION LITERACY

Access and Evaluate Information

Access information efficiently (time) and effectively (sources)

Evaluate information critically and competently

Use and Manage InformationUse Information accurately and creatively for the issue or

problem at hand

Manage the flow of information a wide variety of sources

Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of infomration

MEDIA LITERACY

Analyze Media

Understand both how and why media message are constructed and for what purposes

Examine how individuals interpret messages differently , how values and point of view are included or excluded , and how media can influence

beliefs and behaviors

Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical /legal surrounding the access and the use of the media

Create Media Products

Understand and utilize the most appropriate media creation tools, characteristics and conventions

Understand and effectively utilize the most appropriate expressions and interpretations in diverse, multi-cultural enviroments

ICT (INFORMATION ,COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY) LITERACY Apply Technology Effectively

Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate , and communicate information

Use digital technologies ( e.g., computers , PDAs, media players , GPS etc.),

Communications /networking tools and social networks appropriately to access, manage , integrate , evaluate ,and create information to successfully function in a

knowledge economy

Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issue surrounding the access and use of the information technologies

Integrating the 21st Century Skills with Content

Connecting content knowledge to the real world

Emphasizing deep understanding

Helping Students understanding and monitoring the thinking process

Using technology to help students

Providing opportunities for students “creators”

Engaging students in solving complex problems

Developing life and carrer skills by creating opportunities

Helping students make connections between subject concepts .

Instructions that meets the needs if today’s students will incorporate

A variety of learning opportunities and activities

The use of appropriate technology tools to accomplish learning goals

Project and problem based learning

Cross –curricular connections

A Focus on inquiry and the student –led investigations

Collaborative leaning environments both within and beyond the classroom * High Levels of visualizations and the use of visual to increase understanding * Frequent , Formative assessments including the use of self – assessment

The 21st Century Teacher

1. The Adaptor

As an educator they must understand and apply different learning styles

2. The Visionary

The visionary teacher can look others ideas and envisage how they would use these in their class

3. The Collaborator

As teacher we must be able to leverage these collaborative tools to enhance and captivate out learners . We too must be collaborators; sharing contributing , adapting and inventing

4. The Risk taker

Use the strengths and natives to understand and navigate new products , have the student teach each other .

5. The Learner

We must endevor to stays current . The 21st century teacher or educator must learn and adapt

6. The Communicator

The 21st century teacher are fluent in tools and technologies that enable communications and collaboration.

7. The Model

The 21st century teacher must model the behaviors that are expected from their students . Today and tomorrow

8. The Leader

Leadership , like clear goals and objectives is crucial to the success or failure of any project