21st Century Learning

When one says "21^st century", the first thing that comes to our minds is technology. In 21^st century, technology is crucial in every part of our lives. We can communicate with people from all around the world by means of technology and I think this is crazy! Even if our languages are not the same or we are at very different places, it doesn't matter. Technology just offers us lots of opportunities. Therefore, we can be familiar with different cultures, news from distant places and above all, it makes us all more extrovert. Besides, technology has changed so much things in learning, too. Actually, it is not only technology that has done it but also people change and so, our perspectives indirectly do. For instance; goals of education, the teaching methods and language learning. Let's see the changes!

I mentioned technology a little much but actually we see more than technology in learning. Especially in language learning, we are so much ahead of the previous century. I want to move on with some examples. Now teachers are aware of the fact that it makes no sense if a student knows all the stuff but he/she cannot “use” it, it is not worth it. So, in the concept of 21^st century learning, learnes really learn by experience not by heart.

We can also talk about the classes. Previously, teachers led the classes and students were passive but now, fortunately, classes are learner-centered and students do more than sitting and listening! It’s now not enough for us the coverage of a textbook and synthetic situations from it, 21^st century students want to get something real: maybe real situations from their daily-life. Students don’t want to do works which will never be seen by anyone but their teacher. Because they are intelligent enough to say “They’re totally useless!”.

We should involve our students in the subjects, we should involve technology in our courses but not as a “cool tool”, we should use it in order to enhance learning. We must keep up with the times! Students deserve to know everything around the world at this century.

To sum up, there’s no harm in opening up to the world! We all see the changes that 21^st century has made. We can’t just ignore it. In fact, we should take advantage of it. It just makes our students better learners and makes you a better teacher. Learning thoroughly happens if you really do that: change your teaching methods, make them find out something and make them succeed. In the concept of 21^st century learning, students must take an action and teachers should know when to sit back and let something happen.