Section Two Summary

The Perfect Learning Storm
Four Converging Forces

This chapter discussed how the following four powerful forces are leading us to new ways of learning in the 21st century.
Knowledge Work -Thinking Tools - Digital lifestyles - Learning research
Knowledge Work: 21st century knowledge work is done collaboratively as teams of people work together. They are often spread across multiple locations and coordinate their work through a vast variety of 21st century tools to create and innovate new products and services that solve real world problems. These workers are in high demand and in short supply, thus putting pressure on educational systems to produce knowledge workers and innovators businesses need for the 21st Century.
Thinking Tools: Thinking Tools are all the 21st century technology devices and services that the knowledge workers use to meet the demands put upon them. These tools are fast and becoming faster. Although they have some downsides, the kinks are becoming fewer and the benefits far out way the drawbacks. They are powerful tools and are making it easier to collaborate and connect with the word around.
Digital Lifestyles: “Net geners” as they are referred to in this chapter are the first generation to grow up surrounded by digital media (those currently the ages of 11-31). Our digital lifestyles have changed greatly from 1975 to the present. Just think about a 1975 television set to your current set up, not to mention the cell-phones, camcorders, internet, satellite, ipods, etc. The “net geners” who have grown up with exposure to this digital world have new desire and expectations and want their learning to reflect this. Learning is no longer a one size fits all model and needs to change in order to keep this generation actively engaged in learning.
Learning Research: Research from the last 3 decades has changed the ideas of how people learn and found five key findings that can be used to guide and reshape today’s learning.
1. Authentic learning – making connections so it applies to real world problems and providing experiences to make learning be useful and last.
2. Mental Model Building – Taking what you currently know and building on it through the use of external models using both hands on (visceral) on on-screen (virtual) modeling activities.
3. Internal Motivation – When people have a connection to what is being learned the learning can be sustained and retained longer as well as have a deeper understanding of content.
4. Multiple Intelligences – All learners are not the same. In order to meet the needs of the learner 21st century classrooms need to personalize learning and differentiate instruction.
5. Social Learning- All learning is social in one way or another. 21st century learning opens up a wide array of opportunities to enhance and create collaborative experiences to support this.
As these forces continue forth they are not met without resistance. It is a common thread that anyone in education is familiar with. If the wheel is not broke why fix it because “what I have done for the past 20 years has worked.” As 21st century teachers we need to find a balance between the past and what our students need for their future.

Pedagogy for the Singapore Ministry of Education puts it this way:
We have come a long way in changing out teaching and learning methods, but our teachers and students still have farther to go. We have a new slogan at the Ministry that will hopefully encourage further changes.
The slogan in “Teach Less, Learn More.”

As stated by the 21st Century Skills authors “Learning for work and life in our times means helping as many children as possible learn to apply 21st century skills and a solid understanding of core subjects to the challenges of our times.”

Learning and Innovation of Skills

This Chapter discussed how P21 learning expands and deepens previous learning strategies to better fit our times. Not only do students need to know the basic skills but they need to know how to use them in the real world and how it can apply to their lives.

The first set of 21st century skills focuses on critical thinking and problem solving, communication and collaboration, and creativity and innovation.

Critical thinking and problem solving skills
Students should be able to:
-Reason effectively, use systems thinking, make judgments and decision, and solve problems

Communication and Collaboration Skills
Students should be able to:
-communicate clearly and collaborate with others

Creativity and Innovation Skills
Students should be able to:
-Think creatively, work creatively with others, implement innovations