What Is 21st Century Learning? How Do We Get More? via Forbes

What Is 21st Century Learning? How Do We Get More?

Forbes: 10.02.2019 by Tom Vander Ark

We’re living in an extraordinary century:

➧ Almost six in ten of the nearly 8 billion of us on Earth are connected to the Internet; adding the next 4 billion people to the Internet is the biggest learning opportunity in history.

➧ In the last two decades, we became a planet of cities. About 55% of the world’s population lives in cities and by mid-century—when there are 10 billion of us—it will be more than two thirds, so we’ll need to invent ways to make cities workable, livable, and sustainable.

➧ Extreme poverty was reduced from more than a third to less than 10%, with a shot at eradicating extreme poverty by 2030—there is enough wealth if there is enough will.

➧ Around mid-century, there is a pretty good chance that there will be super intelligent computers (often called artificial general intelligence) that will help solve our most vexing problems—and pose several existential risks.

➧ It will be the hottest century on record, and the last century during which there is a chance to do something about it.

What kind of education would prepare young people for this amazing and terrifying period of history? For 40 years, we’ve been talking about the aims and strategies of 21st century learning. Now that we’re a couple decades in, we have a pretty good view.

What is 21st Century Learning?

“All students have an educational experience preparing them to be effective lifelong learners and contributors.” That’s how Battelle for Kids thinks about 21st century learning. They encourage communities to develop a Portrait of a Graduate embracing key skills including critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity that young people need to thrive in this complex rapidly changing world.

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What does 21st Century Learning Look Like?

Learning for the 21st century is both personal and personalized. It is purposeful and honors learner variability. It combines skill sprints and extended challenges. It combines learner voice and choice with thoughtful guidance to shape learning journeys.

As Ron Berger recently said, learners do their best work when

1) there is a culture of respect and belonging, where students can be their true selves,

2) where work is meaningful and will impact the world,

3) where professionals provide expert critique and guidance,

4) where there is a genuine audience.  READ MORE >>

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Based on (7) readability formulas:

Grade Level: 12

Reading Level: difficult to read.

Reader's Age: 17-18 yrs. old

(Twelfth graders)