VirtualMV/Digital Learning Technologies/Overview/21st C Learning

Overview
Some think of 21st Century learning as just technology, however it encompasses all facets of student learning. Technology is an enabler or tool that assists. The 21st Century learner is a 20th C learner with add-ons (upsized!)

Trends
In Secondary Education
 * You(Tube): 2011: Albany (Auckland NZ), Senior High School

Features of 21 Century learning

 * Student focus
 * Critical thinking
 * Global
 * Social Communities (local, national and international)
 * Multimedia (video - YouTube)
 * Research community based, and can be done very quickly
 * Loads of distractions and choices
 * Mobile
 * Instant
 * High cognitive load - lots of information available
 * Cut 'n paste mentality
 * Huge mix of abilities (Digital gurus to digitally resistant )
 * Lifelong learning
 * Not necessarily interested in assessment. Happy to attend - apathetic
 * Many used to mediocre success
 * Multichannel (e.g. listens to music while studying/clears twitter/facebook)
 * Some chat and listen

Also see [http://oecdeducationtoday.blogspot.fr/2012/05/what-should-students-learn-in-21st.html?m=1 What should students learn in the 21st century? (Fadel, 2012) ]

Classes may be multi-generational
Cambiano, De Vore & Harvey (2001) identify five generational groupings:
 * Traditionalists: 1922 – 1943   (over 65)
 * Baby Boomers: 1944 – 1964    (44 – 64)
 * Generation X: 1965 – 1977  (31 – 43)
 * Generation Y: 1978 – 1994  (14 – 30)
 * Generation Z: 1995 - ?     (Under 14)
 * Generation F: 2003 -


 * Liska (2005) and Boehle (2008) (in Corich, 2008) have identified a number of characteristics and learning style preferences for each of the three groups. Their findings are summarised in the following Table.