Learning in the 21st Century

Students from Robin Hood Elementary in Birmingham show how they use technology, demonstrate that they learn by doing, and encourage teachers to engage them. They also question whether their teachers use the same technologies they do and if they are being taught to think, analyze, and evaluate.

This video challenges teachers to determine if they are reaching and engaging students through technology. It encourages them to use the 3 R's- rigor, relevance, and relationships.

This video has K-12 students showing how they use technology and proclaiming that their teachers do not. The students are pleading to be engaged digitally while in school.

A majority of employers find high school graduates lacking in basic skills. This video argues this is because we're working within a system developed for the Industrial Revolution that has not adapted to the Digital Revolution and that we're teaching in a disconnected way while living in a connected world. It says we need to make students masters with content rather than just master of content. This can be done by building a solid foundation, adding direction to student exploration, and creating opportunities for students to use their skills in the community.

This video says we need to look at the dispositions of kids who are into gaming and realize they are very goal oriented and want to see improvement in their abilities. If we can tap into that desire in schools, we're at an advantage. Because kids aren't born with digital skills, they have to learn them, and we should be teaching skills for creativity and engagement, not just jobs.

This video shows how 19th century traditions became 20th century practices that still dominate education in the 21st century. Today's teaching and learning is outdated and needs to change in order to reach students.

This video shows the evolution of literacy to include 21st century skills. Literacy has moved beyond just reading and writing to include print, non-print, speaking skills, and listening skills. Literacy also encourages interaction with an audience and that should be taking place in schools.

This video shows students at Kansas State University holding up signs that show their educational and technological realities. Their data is based on input by 200 students.

This video talks about taking education to the next step based on how society looks and the fact what we're training students for jobs that don't yet exist using technology that hasn't yet been developed. It states we need to get outside the box and have systemic change in order to reach 21st century learners.