21st Century Learning Skills

The three questions listed below were created by classmates of course: EDUC5860 at York University around 21st Century Learning Skills for students. 

1. How has technology changed students?
2. Do you think it is important to socialize, experiment, and fail with technology?
3. Do you think educators effectively promote the development of 21st century skills? 

Here are my responses to the questions above. Feel free to post your own comments or feedback to my response or your answers to the questions above.

I think technology has changed students in many ways. They are becoming consumers at a much earlier age than previous generations. They are much more knowledgeable about new software release and apps for digital devices than many adults. Students rely more on their devices to find answers rather than searching for information in a book. Their device may take the place of multiple devices that individuals in the past may have possessed. For example, a smart phone takes the places or incorporates many devices of the past and makes it portable such as T.V on your smart phone, music, gps, calculator, notebooks, audio video recorder, camera for capturing images, texting, emailing, and oral communication. These are some example of how technology is changing students.

It is important to experiment, socialize and fail with anything no just technology. Learning is a process that incorporates experimenting. Experimenting is the part of learning which helps to figure out how something works. Socializing is key to communicate what you do and don't understand and to ask for assistance for what you need help with or to consolidate what you know, as well as to share with others. The saying goes "we learn from our mistakes." So, failure is apart of the learning process which provides students/people with experiences to improve on for future successes.

Promoting 21st century learning skills depends on where the educator is located and the types of technology that educator have to use. It also depends on that educators ability and comfort level with the types of technology 21st century learners are using. I believe in areas where there are technology available and educators are trained to use it effectively with their students it will be used. However, where technology is not available at school or at home for some students then 21st century learning skills are not or wont be promoted.

When I think about the notion of 21st century learners I always wonder which group of people in society are being referring to. Is it referring to students who are from middle to upper class because seldom do we consider the "have nots" who are students living in low socio-economic areas where their parent(s) may not be able to afford the types of technology devices or Internet access necessary to meet some of the criteria of a 21st century learner. I also think about the kids on reserves in Ontario and other provinces and territories across Canada, as well as refugee parent(s) and kid(s) who relocated to Canada because of war or political unrest in the countries they are from.