21st Century Thinker

We don’t need to transform students into 21st-century learners. It is already happening. Students must become 21st-century thinkers and communicators.

Students need independent skills to acquire knowledge.

Basic learning needs have not changed. The environment to obtain and apply the learning has changed. We also need to be careful that instructional practice builds on what works now. Often we throw out the good as we try new techniques.

Did technology change thinking requirements?

• Technology has changed the classroom environment. The basis for learning is much the same.
• Technology doesn’t allow for shortcuts to skills and content knowledge.
• Technology does allow for shortcuts to access content knowledge.

Students need to learn to think for themselves.

What is different?

• Students will problem solve their entire life
• Information surrounds students
• Content comes from many more sources, not just the textbook and teacher
• Content is created outside of textbook publishers control
• Teacher and student content is less controlled and can be shared anywhere
• Instructional fads are easier to access
• People push instructional technology that is not as good as past practice

What type of skills and knowledge will students need?

1. Students still need core content knowledge to function as productive citizens.
2. Communication skills will have to scale as technology evolves. Student access to publishing information makes it important to know how and when to share thoughts.
3. Writing formats must adapt to the delivery platform used to communicate.
4. Students need the ability to filter information from all types of sources. In the past, we taught text based evaluation of information. It was much easier to control the sources. Controlling access or sources is no longer possible. Students with the skills to filter and use information appropriately will have a significant advantage in society.
5. The classroom needs authentic learning opportunities using the proper communication methods to show understanding.
6. We need to teach how to learn from non-traditional sources online. Flipped classrooms and other types of technology learning environments require skills that must be learned in addition to the content.