A Wonder learner by Nadine Taft

How do we define the learner?

The 21^st century learner is a completely different being! Social, interactive and always on. They are constantly connected. Learning for them has become a life-long process and continues beyond the classroom. They are creative creatures, who think critically about the information they have been given. They are able to use this information, think out of the box, and apply it to the real world situations. Doing a million things at once, no problem! These learners are incredible multitaskers.  The 21^st century learner is digitally literate and world of technology is their playground. They have instant access to information and are able to take it all in quicker than we think.

References:

Kim cofino (http://kimcofino.com/blog)

Rodgers, M., Runyon, D., Starrett, D., Von Holzen, R. ()Teaching the 21^st century learner. 22^nd Annual conference on distance teaching and learning. Sited from: http://www.uwex.edu/disted/conference 

Structuring of a 21st Wonderworld by Elani Venter

How should education be structured to meet the needs of students in the 21^st century world?

The world is changing and so the education system should change as well to fit the 21^st century student.

In the past children grew up playing with toy cars outside in the dust, the dressed up their dolls and made them drink tea. Today they they have their own computers and play games and almost never see the outside.

By the age of 21, 21^st century students will have played 10 000 hours of games, sent 200 000 emails, watched 20 000 hours of television and spent 10 000 hours on there cell phones. They can multi-task and they want to use images, colour and sound wherever they can. They are digitally literate, they experiment and they are social. They want interactivity, they read visual images and have strong visual-spatial skills, they like parallel processing and inductive discovery, they want fast response and don’t want a long attention spans.

You have to focus the education more on solving problems, thinking processes and not on the content. Focus on peer-to-peer situations, and let them explore the situation themselves, learning through experience.

They are expecting technology in the classrooms because that is with what they grew up. You have to let them work on the computers to solve problems, use online quizzes, create games for them that will test their knowledge, provide forums for sharing information, let them share pictures, videos and anything they want to. The use of wireless networking in you classroom will make it easy for them to access in class and you can do exercises with them on the computer, like fit the words the picture. They can create a classroom concept map on the computer the will include videos, links to websites, pictures etc. If you use online collaboration via whiteboards, discussions on blogs, wikis and chats you involve the student because they love communication on line. Learning will take place and the will corporate. If schools have the ability to have computers you can do lots of fun activities with them in class. But also remember most children have cell phones that have internet connections. So let them use that in class to do a quick Google search on facts or things that they need to find in class. Keep it based on the lesson and relevant but let them play on Google. If the school can supply iPads, use that. MiPad has lots of applications that you can use to make the lesson interesting. You can let them change photos,make dairies, list and calendars. Teach them how to keep organised on that little devise. Everyday almost there are new applications on iPads that you can use to teach them.

The youth of today are technologically advanced, and they have lots of opportunities. We have to provide them with all the opportunities to develop skills so that they will be able to make a positive influence on the world. They are creative, cognitive and have the ability to learn!Students of today want to be mature on lots of levels, intellect, physical and social. You as a teacher needs to be we informed and trained as well to provide the best possible education for them. You have to know how to search on the internet, how to use technology effectively and you have to be able to teaches them from the technological point of view.

The whole education system must change and keep up with the rest of the world and the new 21^st century. We have to provide the students with the skills and knowledge that is world-class and of very high standard.

 please watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y7eijNoiGc

http://www.nacfam.org/Portals/0/Workforce/21stCLS_WhitePaper_12-3-08.pdf

http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/276651/raising-21st-century-child

http://depd.wisc.edu/series/06_4168.pdf

Plain and Straight forward... by Tintswalo mkansi

What is Green Education?

When we look at green education the first thing that should come to mind is “sustainable development”. Now what this means is we use our resources in such a way that they don’t harm the environment to such an extent that it destroys it over time. But how do we come to teach the learners this. Obviously we have to give them the basic knowledge of the issues such as of pollution, sewerage problems, saving electricity just to mention a few. Also as in the 21^st century the learners should also research these issues so that they may see the intensity of the problems. But information is not enough in order to have a green environment but the implementation thereof. It’s about putting the theory into practice on how to sustain our environment for example, with saving water don’t keep the tap running unnecessary, and by learning this in turn can benefit the community because these learners may go home and educate the community on how to conserve water and will become a habit that slowly but surely our water will be conserved and educating the elders on what to do and what not to do as the learners have a big influence on their community.

How do we now define a “Teacher”?

“Teacher- from primary role as a dispenser of information to orchestrator of learning and helping students turn information into knowledge, and knowledge into wisdom,” (Fessler, 2011:12).

Now days the approach has changed from a teacher –centred approach to a student-centred approach meaning that the teachers need to adapt to this. So the characteristics of how we define a teacher is as follows:

v  Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity so that they may be the best that they can be.

v  Activate students to maximize the potential of their formal and informal learning experiences.

v  Facilitate learning in a variety of ways best possible to suit the learners.

v  Using digital tools such as computers to improve student engagement and achievement.

v  Working with the students to create new and exciting learning opportunities.

v  Be lifelong learners and ready to adapt to change.

v  Be global educators

How do we now define a “Learner?”

The following characteristics will define the perfect 21^st century learner (Certiport, http://www.certiport.org/docs/IEAB_Whitepaper040808.pdf):

v  They like to be in control

v  They like choices

v  They are inclusive in all that they do

v  They are sociable and group orientated

v  They are users of digital technology

v  They are different in the way that they think

v  They like to take risks

Comment on if you agree or disagree on these characteristics????

Global Classroom

Isn’t it so amazing how technology has advanced in so many different ways? From the way we access information and how we use it. A global classroom can be seen as the way in which the education has evolved from teaching in classrooms to receiving your lectures via the internet in the comfort of your own home without even leaving your home. This in a way enables the learners from all around the world to study at any tertiary institution that they want without being present in that particular country, the way that the costs will be less for accommodation and all other expenses associated with studying.  This also involves the communicating with one another from across the borders like for example Skype, where you are able to communicate with family or friends even though you are far way from each other. With the lectures on the internet this enables all the learners across the world to also be able to interact with one another and share their own ideas and views, and this is to the advantage that not all people are the same and we are able to learn from the different views therefore getting a global perspective of everything. What do you think about the global classroom?

Falling down the rabbit hole...

The name says it all: Alice in WONDERLAND... It's a world where all things are possible. Where the unimaginable is imaginable, the impossible is possible. Where Cats can fly and disappear, where rabbits can talk and flowers live, where one can shrink by drinking a potion and grow by eating a biscuit.

This is our foundation of creating a new paradigm of the 21st century education. Looking at all the impossible and unimaginable things and making it possible.

The WONDERLAND we are entering as we speak is a world full of possibilties. It is a whole new world, constantly changing, emerging technology and complex media-saturated society. It is an unknown world, but if and when you take the time to explore, understand and adapt, the world will become your playground.

The 21st century is part of a world of technological revolution, it is diverse with no limits - It provides unlimited possibilities for existing discoveries and development. In this wonder world no one is too young or too old to make their voice heard. It is a healthier lifestyle, where everything becomes more and more eco-friendly, poeple are more aware of globalization and climate change. Information is easily accessible on the internet, via your cellphone or ipad. Social networks are freely available and you can connect with people around the world.

Skills required for surviving in this wonder world of technology are being able to operate these new developments and striving for a greener eco-friendly healthy lifestyle. You have to have the mind set and positive attitude to reach professional develpoment and finding the change in yourself. You have to acquire open-mindedness to be able to be creative, innovative and use all the opportunities the 21st century provides.

Enjoy the exploration... Love your Mad Hatters.