21st Century Learning

Video focused on discussion of what, how, and where learning will take place in terms of the 21st century. In the video the Library of Congress centered its efforts for changing education on the rapidly changing global world and what it means to be an effective citizen in a world saturated with information. In the end, the video inferred that schools need to change their approach to teaching to include skills that develop critical thinking and analysis using primary sources.

Video encouraged educational reform to include skills to help students "decode" various amounts of information in multiple formats as well as communicate in several forms and larger audiences.

"Literacy includes critical thinking and problem-solving skills, computer and technology skills, and communication and self-direction skills."

Video depicts U.S. high school graduates as woefully unprepared for future employment in the 21st century. To fix this, the authors of the video implore the internet community to support the use of content to teach skills and the inclusion of career academies to help students in high school become acclimated to the workforce with hands-on experience.

Video by Kansas State University illustrates a problem between what a student values in terms and knowledge and what is presented to them. It also highlights that despite the wealth and saturation of technological use by people with access to it, they ultimately aren't "learning" from it.

Video stated in the beginning that a Vision of K-12 Students Today:
“Students will use engaging technologies in collaborative, inquiry-based learning environments with teachers who are willing to use technologies power to assist them in transforming knowledge and skills into products, solutions, and new information.”

Ultimately, the video represents a difference between what digital resources students use to learn information today and how much (or lack thereof) teachers use digital resources to teach students. The video promotes change in the education system by incorporating more digital skills into the curriculum.

Video showed Middle School students with various technologies as well as the different capabilities and uses for the technologies. In the video the students show signs that are inferring that these and other technologies are what need to be used for a 21st century learner.

Video advocated linking informal and formal learning in a digital way.

“Learning the tools and skills of remaking that content, becoming the creator and producer.”

Authors expressed the need in skills for creativity and civic life – not just for the work force.

Video depicted students in school today as inherently technologically savvy, collaborative, and innovative. According to the video, teaching has to change in order to accommodate the learning styles of these "technology natives."

Video represents a disconnect between curriculum presented in schools and the needs to digital learners. At it foundation, learning needs to be creative in order to be engaging. According to the video some of the items students should use are Web 2.0 tools, phones, and computers to create engaging and creative learning environments. It enlightened teachers to “pay attention” to how students are learning in this new digital age.