Twenty First Centurians

Realise the need of the hour....

Whether you are a teacher, a parent, an aunt or an uncle, it is important to know that today’s students are wildly different in some ways, from past generations.The contemporary education system could become irrelevant if the educational gap between how students live and how students learn is not filled. This new generation of learners requires fast access to new knowledge and are capable of taking integrated information to a new level. Learners in the 21st century have the opportunity to use the internet as a base to easily collect information. While in the 21st century classroom, the focus is no longer on memorising and recalling facts, but rather on functional learning (where the students learn by “doing”).

Learners of the 21st century are educated with the intention of them becoming productive citizens in a democratic society in terms of what is required in the 21st century workplace. As a result, these learners possess certain characteristics that are part of the new millennium. These come with new challenges for the 21st century teacher. In this article we first look at these characteristics of the learners of the 21st century, and then at the challenges these pose for the teachers. Lastly, we draw attention to the way traditional education must adapt to the 21st century learners together with solutions to these challenges.

Ever since the world existed, a lot of developments have occurred. This is very evident in the way people gain access and spread information, work habits, methods of socializing, and many more. The transformation of the devices that we use from gigantic supercomputers to tablets are tangible signs of change. This is brought about by the evolution of how people think towards the 21st century. It is only apt that as educators, our methods of shaping the minds of the future generation should also be able to adapt to these changes as well.

To become better educators, it’s best to know the type of learners we are dealing with. Here, we list down some of the characteristics of 21st-century learners.

Broad, deep understanding of the world

Students these days know that they live in the world where there are diversity and a lot of issues to address such as health concerns, environment protection, economic growth and many more. They try to play an important role to play in taking care of the environment and help lessen the contribution of society to its destruction. They also tend to be more financially literate and can make economically sound decisions.

Makes interdisciplinary connections

These days, students can apply and relate what they learn in different subject areas such as mathematics, science, history and the arts to address an issue or achieve a certain project. Doing so gives them a deeper sense of understanding and appreciation of the complex concepts and equations that they have to study every day.

Thinks critically and creatively

21st-century learners can process the information that they receive, ask questions, analyze them and make arguments, beliefs or decisions based on this information. They do not limit themselves to becoming one-trick ponies only. They often think outside the box, not only sticking to a single approach to attacking a dilemma.

Communicates and collaborates with others

Two heads are better than one. The students of today realize the power of a unified group and learn how to deal with different personalities in an effective and courteous manner.

Creates evaluates and utilizes information

Technology has made it possible for us to gain access to a diverse and abundant amount of information. Students can harness this, evaluate which ones are accurate and have significance, and use it to address a certain issue.

Career-ready and prepared for life

For people like us who have already experienced it, we can agree on the fact that the real world can be harsh and cruel, very much unlike the environment the students have been used to. It is certainly going to take more than just knowledge and theoretical ideas that are going to make a person survive the grown-up life. But students of today are more flexible and can easily adapt to new environments.

Eyes on the prize

Given the set of skills above, as modern day educators, we now have a daunting task ahead of us. How do we modify our courses to help the students further their skills? Education today is more than just giving lessons and assignments. It is now a two-way process where both the student and the teacher learn from each other side by side. A lot of resources are available to help achieve this goal. What’s important is that we remain focused and push through our desire to make this world a better place, starting with the people who live in it

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 21ST CENTURY LEARNERS

The characteristics of 21st century learners :

21st Century learners…

• Want to have a say in their education. They’ll respond better when their voices are heard.
• Often have higher levels of digital literacy than their parents or teachers. They don’t know a world without computers.
• Expect transparency in their parents, teachers and mentors. They’ll see right through you. (Makes it really hard to plan a surprise birthday party for them!)
• Want you to tell them when you have messed up, apologize for it, and move on. Everyone messes up. No big deal. Just don’t try to hide it. If you do, they are likely to post it on Facebook.
• Don’t care as much about having a job as they do about making a difference. The very concept of a “job” has changed so much in the past decade, the future is about making a difference.
• Demand the freedom to show their wild creativity. 21st century learners balk at rote learning and memorizing. They’ll do it if you make them, but be prepared to let them loose to be creative, too.
• Want to connect with others in real time on their own terms. They want their social media, their phones and their mobile technology. They want to be connected. All the time. In a way that makes sense to them (not necessarily to you).
• Collaborate amazingly well. They love teamwork and figuring things out with their friends.
• Really can multi-task. To do other wise is… yawn! Bo-ring!
• Appreciate a “trial and error” approach to learning new skills. Thank you, video-game industry.
• Learn by doing. Just try making them sit down and learn from you by watching. See what happens.
• Have a “can do” attitude. Of course, they can do it, silly! There is nothing to be afraid of.
• Thrive in an atmosphere of controlled challenge. They must be challenged or they zone out, but they need structure, too.
• Have multicultural awareness and appreciation. This generation is more aware of a variety cultures, countries and ways of life than any generation before them.
• Open to change. Really, what’s the big deal?
• Are equal parts “consumer” and “creator”. Today’s learners download their own songs and apps from iTunes… and then they create their own stuff and upload it to share with others.
• Increasingly aware of the world around them. From the environment to politics, today’s learners are asking questions and demanding answers.
• Know where to go to find information. Google was first incorporated in 1998. 21st century learners have never known a world without Google.
• Are better educated than any generation before them. (See #17.) 21st century learners really do know more than their parents (but that doesn’t necessarily make them wiser!)
• Expect inter-disciplinarity. It is we, the older generation, who organize topics into “subjects”. The 21st century learner understands that subjects are inherently interconnected. Like, duh!
• Know that they are the future. They look at their parents and their peers and understand that the world’s future rests in their hands. (Wouldn’t it make you just a little bit cocky, too?)

Mainly they are of fourtypes...

1. The technological learner
2. The less technological learner
3. The all-knowing learner
4. The literate learner

1. THE TECHNOLOGICAL LEARNER

The 21st century learners are referred to as the “screen generation” because they are so much more visually oriented than any generation before them. Because of the over use of technology, the following negative characteristics of the 21st century learner have been identified.

The 21st century learners:

are attention deficit because they are not accustomed to interruptions.

don’t use their imagination, seldom read books and have smaller vocabularies. They also use short communication styles, possess ineffective reading skills and have poor spelling abilities.

However, positive characteristics have also been identified for the learners of the 21st century, namely:

better coordination and motor skills and more accessible internet use.

use wiki’s, blogs, mind maps on Bubble Us and can make movies on “Microsoft Movie Maker”.

have a lot more foreknowledge than any other generation before them as a result of access to the internet.

are able to apply theoretical knowledge in society because they learn by “doing”.

have a meta cognitive awareness, where learners are taught to think about how they learn.

2. THE LESS-TECHNOLOGICAL LEARNER

Although there are learners that become more technologically literate every day, the reality in South Africa is that there are also those learners who are not so fortunate. Although technological advances for the education system have been made, it is easy to think that all schools enjoys these advantages According to the National Education infrastructure Management System (2015) there are 913 schools in South-Africa that no even have electricity readily available. The question is this: How will these learners participate in the larger world operations if they do not have access to technology? The answer is easy: the characteristics of the 21st century learner are not only based on technological progress, but also communication skills. These learners’ innovation skills, however, can be improved because these learners do not repeat other people’s ideas, but instead use their own common sense and introduce new interesting perspectives to the world.

3. THE ALL-KNOWING LEARNER

The 21st century learner knows “everything”! It is said that the 21st century learner has on the following three types of knowledge:

Declarative knowledge (knowledge about themselves and other learners))

Procedural knowledge (knowledge of strategies)

Conditional knowledge (knowledge about which strategy to use)

These are important characteristics of 21st century learners because the learners can use this knowledge outside of the classroom context. Self-discipline in study is another important trait that these learners possess. These learners expect interaction and are highly sociable.

4. THE LITERATE LEARNER

Learners of the 21st century possess communication skills, are adaptable and innovative and can easily solve complex problems.They are comfortable working with technology in order to broaden their knowledge. The 21st century learner also has civic literacy (are informed about government organisations), global awareness, financial literacy, healthy literacy, environmental literacy, visual literacy, cooperative association, critical thinking and problem solving skills and show creativity and innovation. These learners possess more qualities of leadership and accountability, have media skills and have technological literacy.

CHALLENGES FACED BY TEACHERS

• Technological challenges for teachers Technology has many advantages for education, but it can also be used for negative activities. Prof Jannie Ferreira, former head of the Optometry department at the University of Johannesburg, warns that learners who spend too much time on tablets and cellphones can fall behind in learning physical - by developing problems with their eyesight. It is a problem for the teacher because the learner will first struggle to concentrate. Secondly, it is a challenge for teachers because the learners experiencing impaired vision will struggle to read and write. Reading and writing forms the basis of the entire education system and when learners are struggling to read and write because they have trouble seeing, or have a hard time learning to recognise the words at a younger age, it will be extraordinarily difficult for these learners to transfer new knowledge.

The all-knowing learner as a challenge for teachers It is already determined that self-directed learning is a characteristic of 21st century learning. Learners’ 21st century skills should be nurtured and the learners should be helped to change what they learn into a lifelong pattern of deeper study.

This characteristic of self-directed learning, however, can be a challenge for the teacher because s/he will not be sure about the class’ level of knowledge is. It can be a demanding task for teachers to assess the knowledge each student has gained from self-directed learning.

The literate learner as a challenge for teachers Although the 21st century learners have these different forms of literacy, it is the duty of the teachers to try inclusively incorporate all of the learners’ literacies in their teaching. When specifically looking at communication skills, it is obvious that not all learners communicate and learn in the same way. Some learners can interact and communicate well, but when it comes to academic writing, they use shortened language forms such as is used in SMSs and on Facebook for example. This practice can lead to poor word and general knowledge. It then becomes the teacher’s job to ensure that the learners understand that there is something generally accepted as the standard language and that this should rather be used as the academic language.

ADJUSTMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TEACHERS

When speaking for the 21st century learner, the traditional education system should be adjusted to provide order to the demanding needs of modern learners. Obviously, teaching in the 21-century is an altogether different phenomenon; never before could learning be happening the way it is now -- everywhere, all the time, on any possible topic, supporting any possible learning style or preference. But what does being a 21st-century teacher really mean?

Best Strategies for 21st-century Educator:

1.Learner-Centered Classroom and Personalized Instructions

As students have access to any information possible, there certainly is no need to "spoon-feed" the knowledge or teach "one-size fits all" content. As students have different personalities, goals, and needs, offering personalized instructions is not just possible but also desirable. When students are allowed to make their own choices, they own their learning, increase intrinsic motivation, and put in more effort -- an ideal recipe for better learning outcomes!

2. Students as Producers

Today's students have the latest and greatest tools, yet, the usage in many cases barely goes beyond communicating with family and friends via chat, text, or calls. Even though students are now viewed as digital natives, many are far from producing any digital content. While they do own expensive devices with capabilities to produce blogs, infographics, books, how-to videos, and tutorials, just to name a few, in many classes, they are still asked to turn those devices off and work with handouts and worksheets. Sadly, often times these papers are simply thrown away once graded. Many students don't even want to do them, let alone keep or return them later. When given a chance, students can produce beautiful and creative blogs, movies, or digital stories that they feel proud of and share with others.

3. Learn New Technologies

In order to be able to offer students choices, having one's own hands-on experience and expertise will be useful. Since technology keeps developing, learning a tool once and for all is not a option. The good news is that new technologies are new for the novice and and experienced teachers alike, so everyone can jump in at any time!

4. Go Global

Today's tools make it possible to learn about other countries and people first hand. Of course, textbooks are still sufficient, yet, there is nothing like learning languages, cultures, and communication skills from actually talking to people from other parts of the world.

It's a shame that with all the tools available, we still learn about other cultures, people, and events from the media. Teaching students how to use the tools in their hands to "visit" any corner of this planet will hopefully make us more knowledgable and sympathetic.

5. Be Smart and Use Smart Phones

Once again -- when students are encouraged to view their devices as valuable tools that support knowledge (rather than distractions), they start using them as such. I remember my first years of teaching when I would not allow cell phones in class and I'd try to explain every new vocabulary word or answer any question myself -- something I would not even think of doing today!

I have learned that different students have different needs when it comes to help with new vocabulary or questions; therefore, there is no need to waste time and explain something that perhaps only one or two students would benefit from. Instead, teaching students to be independent and know how to find answers they need makes the class a different environment!

I have seen positive changes ever since I started viewing students' devices as useful aid. In fact, sometimes I even respond by saying "I don't know -- use Google and tell us all!" What a difference in their reactions and outcomes!

6. Blog

I have written on the importance of both student and teacher blogging. Even my beginners of English could see the value of writing for real audience and establishing their digital presence. To blog or not to blog should not be a question any more!

7. Go Digital

Another important attribute is to go paperless -- organizing teaching resources and activities on one's own website and integrating technology bring students learning experience to a different level. Sharing links and offering digital discussions as opposed to a constant paper flow allows students to access and share class resources in a more organized fashion.

8. Collaborate

Technology allows collaboration between teachers & students. Creating digital resources, presentations, and projects together with other educators and students will make classroom activities resemble the real world. Collaboration should go beyond sharing documents via e-mail or creating PowerPoint presentations. Many great ideas never go beyond a conversation or paper copy, which is a great loss! Collaboration globally can change our entire experience!

9. Use Twitter Chat

Participating in Twitter chat is the cheapest and most efficient way to organize one's own PD, share research and ideas, and stay current with issues and updates in the field. We can grow professionally and expand our knowledge as there is a great conversation happening every day, and going to conferences is no longer the only way to meet others and build professional learning networks.

10. Connect

Connect with like-minded individuals. Again, today's tools allow us to connect anyone, anywhere, anytime. Have a question for an expert or colleague? Simply connect via social media: follow, join, ask, or tell!

11. Project-Based Learning

As today's students have an access to authentic resources on the web, experts anywhere in the world, and peers learning the same subject somewhere else, teaching with textbooks is very "20th-century" (when the previously listed option were not available). Today's students should develop their own driving questions, conduct their research, contact experts, and create final projects to share all using devices already in their hands. All they need from their teacher is guidance!

12. Build Your Positive Digital Footprint

It might sound obvious, but it is for today's teachers to model how to appropriately use social media, how to produce and publish valuable content, and how to create sharable resources. Even though it's true that teachers are people, and they want to use social media and post their pictures and thoughts, we cannot ask our students not to do inappropriate things online if we ourselves do it. Maintaining professional behavior both in class and online will help build positive digital footprint and model appropriate actions for students.

13. Code

While this one might sound complicated, coding is nothing but today's literacy. As a pencil or pen were "the tools" of the 20th-century, making it impossible to picture a teacher not capable to operate with it, today's teacher must be able to operate with today's pen and pencil, i.e., computers. Coding is very interesting to learn -- the feeling of writing a page with HTML is amazing! Even though I have ways to go, just like in every other field, a step at a time can take go a long way. Again, lynda.com is a great resource to start with!

14. Innovate

I invite you to expand your teaching toolbox and try new ways you have not tried before, such as teaching with social media or replacing textbooks with web resources. Not for the sake of tools but for the sake of students!

Ever since I started using TED talks and my own activities based on those videos, my students have been giving a very different feedback. They love it! They love using Facebook for class discussions and announcements. They appreciate novelty -- not the new tools, but the new, more productive and interesting ways of using them.

15. Keep Learning

As new ways and new technology keep emerging, learning and adapting is essential. The good news is: it's fun, and even 20 min a day will take you a long way!

The following recommendations are made to reduce the excessive use of technology, namely:

Be strict and limit the times the learners spend on computers, and do not let the learners hold the screens too close to their faces. Along with the advancement of technology, physical exercise should also enjoy some attention. Let the learners play outdoors because it illuminates the near-point stress and supports the visual system.

Because the modern learners are technologically literate, it would be seen as a strong point for the teachers to incorporate it into the lessons.

It is important for the learners to be actively involved in learning activities, and to therefore ensure that the learners flourish in a learner - centred classroom.

The ideal classroom of the 21st century includes having these learners’ needs provided for in regards to the learning of concepts, so that these learners become productive citizens and contribute to the democratic system and that learners will be able to form their own opinions.

Finally, it is clear that the 21st century learner is woven out of these different characteristics that together connect to a larger order the world.