Teaching 21st Century Learners Using 21st Century Tools

Teaching students in the 21st century is a challenge many teachers are facing. There are many factors involved in this task. In order to reach students in the 21st century teachers must take a different approach. This new approach might find some veteran teachers outside of their comfort zone or that it very different from the traditional roles teachers fill in the classroom, this change is needed to actively reach and engage digital natives. This challenge is one felt by teachers all over the nation, not solely from a particular area. It is also one that teachers both new and veteran are facing. When delving into this topic, many themes emerged. The most relevant was the need for understanding the 21st century learner, and the New Tech model for teaching. This lead to understanding collaborative learning; what does that look like in the classroom, and to recognize its significance in students\u27 academic lives. New teacher development was yet another theme that came up in the research, and realizing that teacher both with experience and new to their careers had an influence on student learning is one of the important key factors in 21st century learning. Some topics like class size and integrated instruction, have always found a place in education research. Their role in student learning has developed over time. The Problem Based Learning model is new to schools, and one that schools from around the nation are looking into and adopting into their school culture and with that comes the use of technology. All of topics researched brought questions and new ideas when trying to figure out what the 21st century leaner was all about, how they are different than non-21st century learners and understanding what tools exist to help reach all the different types of students out there. Understanding the 21st century learner, and how teachers can make the iv shift to help them gain control of the education, lead to the creation of an online website or resources. On the website teachers have access to a variety of lessons, and tools that help teachers gain access to build relationships with the student, as well as help the student take control of their education. While most think 21st century involves a computer, there are other areas and skills necessary for a student to function in the 21st century that does not involve technology. Technology integration is just one piece to a giant puzzle that is their education and future