Learning in the 21st Century
It was fascintaitng to read the different takes on ’21st century learning’ in Rich’s (2010) article. Each idea was different and all contributors were highly valued and highly educated practitioners contributing toe 21st century learning in some form or another. There were varying definitions and feelings towards 21t century learning, with different likes and concerns arising. The majority of contirbutions acknowledged that learning cannot take place in a vaccuum, that society and the development of technology has completely upended that concept and that learning has the potential to take place at any time, anywhere. Additionally, there was an emphasis on 21st century skills like abstract problem solving, technology use and the development of systems-thinking, but at the same time, it was noted that the development of ‘traditional’ reading and writing skills need to be maintained, as do socialisation skills, even if transferred to an online platform.
I would be curious to see the responses this article would present from a similar cohort if it were run today. A lot has changed since 2010, particularly in recent months and I believe that the concept of 21st century learning has only broadened and become more nuanced as a result.
The Thoughtful Learning (2017) article goes on to specifically discuss identifying 21st century skills. As ever, education is delivered in an effort to develop a competent, resourceful workforce that can support the community and the economy (PwC, 2017). The workforce of today and the future is changing and so education must adapt as change continues to increase (Bolles, 2017).
What are 21st Century Learning Skills?
I think the greatest skills will be adaptability and a familiarity with problem solving (Bolles, 2017). Workers must be socially and technologically literate (Thoughtful Learning, 2017) and companies must be flexible, socially aware and invested in their employees enough to provide ongoing, relevant professional skill development (Horrigan, c2010).
21st century learning environments
Reflection
What might a 21st century library look like and is the building or the space more important than what is happening in that space?
As you work through this last section, think about your library, its physical and virtual spaces and what is happening there. How could you effect change and what strategies would you use?
I believe the physical building of a library is as equally important as what is going on within it.
Primarily, a 21st century library should be a community hub. While it may not be strictly necessary to house tomes of information in physical libraries any longer, I maintain that physical books are still valuable and should be accessible, for free, to all and any. We must remain aware that not every patron is coming from technology rich environment and so will have different experiences and skills. One action of the library would be to house these books and act as a center for interaction around these books. It should provide access to technology and online platforms, spaces for groups to gather and interact and, ideally, act as a safe space for those who have little other recourse where possible. The 21st century library should act as a traditional watering hole or marketplace would, in connecting communities, providing services and enduring as a point of human connection.
Additionally, the 21st century library should occupy a space online. It should have an active and relvant online presence to engage patrons not within the immediate vacinity and support their use of online programs, access of eBooks, provide additional training and development of technology skills and, overall, be an adaptable space that mirrors the physical element of a library (Whisken, 2012).
My library could use adapted maker-spaces and more technology to bring it into the 21st century (Luhtala, 2015), all of which relies on funding, which is stereotypically short in our school. We are currently involved with robotics and I have taken on planning and delivering different STEM units in an effort to move forward with 21st century education.
Developing an online presence to communicate with patrons outside of school hours and confines is also current goal of mine. Developing this presence will allow for more regular communication from the library, sharing of information, programs and new resources (.
References
Bolles, G. (2017, February 16) Hiring and developing your future workforce. [Video]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/learning/hiring-and-developing-your-future-workforce/welcome?u=2096756
Horrigan, B. (c2010). Corporate social responsibility in the 21st century: debates, models and practices across government, law and business. Cheltenham, UK.
Luhtala, M. (2015, October 6). Why a makerspace in the library [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Sbj_FtEAEcc
PwC. (2017, March). Education will be the engine room to Australia’s future prosperity. https://www.pwc.com.au/education/education-reform-mar17.pdf
Rich, E. (2010, October 11). How do you define 21st century learning? Education Week. http://www.edweek.org/tsb/articles/2010/10/12/01panel.h04.html
Whisken, A. (2012). iCentre’s virtual dimension- One school library’s use of digital spaces. Synergy, 10(1). https://search-informit-com-au.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/fullText;dn=194192;res=AEIPT
