Twenty-first Century Learners
Do you believe the 21st century learners are different than learners in the past?
Learners now have been raised with technology so they are more comfortable with it. Because we have grown up with video games and such we also have shorter attention spans, and respond well to quick rewards like points.
Adel ,
Very good point. I worry about that myself as I see their accountability dwindling in certain areas.
Renee Shaffer
I agree. Most Digital Natives who have grown up with technology are unable to accomplish even the simplest task without it, or unable to detach from their personal technology long enough to stay attentive in class. I fear that one drawback of adaptive learning is that it caters even further to the self-centered nature of some students who seem to have very little social responsibility and accountability.
Annette,
How true. But it is very difficult to keep up with technology as it keeps developing faster and faster.
Renee Shaffer
With the advancement of technology there is no doubt that today's learners are very different. The demands for knowledge at the student's fingertips and how vast that knowledge is certainly keeps educators on their toes. Also, learners are constantly bombarded with information and visual distraction that education must compete and be successful. There are all sorts of media, ever-changing gadgets and increased activities with not enough time in the day. It's a different world than learners and educators have been accustomed to in years past. The bottom line is that if you don't stay up with the technology, you will be left in the dust.
Sydney, my thoughts exactly! I find that this demographic of students has very short attention span and a need to have constant stimulation, either visually or auditory. They tend to study better with headphones and while texting! Their comfort level with technology is astounding and can be intimidating to the older generation of students. Their definition of boredom raises the bar in demanding a stimulating environment with immediate feedback and reward. Yes, I agree that adaptive learning will eventually become the norm.
Yes.
Twenty-first Century Learners enjoy more personalized instruction.
They appreciate moving more quickly over material that they have grasped and work at their own pace.
These students prefer less emphasis on grades and more emphasis on what they have accomplished, learned, retained and mastered.
Integrated software, case studies, application, etc. is great for digital natives.
Yes I do believe that 21st Century learners are different than learners in the past because they are a lot more familiar with technology. I also feel the 21st century learner have shorter attention spans, as social media and other outside factors provide constant distractions to a learning environment. This is why I believe that adaptive learning with continue to become more and more prominent.
100%, students rely far too much on the internet and have a hard time figuring things out on their own, social skills have declined and most have a hard time working in groups.
Renee,
I absolutely believe that! I think that technology has brought us a long way, and while I think that perhaps older learners i.e. baby boomers may struggle a bit, they are catching on. I have many students in my business classes that are older, and a little nervous with the technology, but usually by the end of the class, they are perfectly ok with the technology and keeping up with everyone else.
I do think 21st century learners are different. I think they are more into immediate gratification and have lost some critical thinking skills. The speed of technological advances has and will influence learners and educators. Students want to grasp information quickly and not "chew" on it i.e. think about the information and how they can apply it into a concept, how they can use it, etc. On the other side of the coin,I have to rely on their knowledge base with technology sometimes to help enhance my ability to teach.
I believe that the 21st Century Learners are more comfortable with technology and the use of electronic devices. The learners themselves have some different skills but overall they learn through the same process as all who have gone before.
