Things are changing around us very dramatically, very quickly.  We are now facing the phase of globalization.  The globalized economy creates opportunity, challenges and unpredictable changes.  The great challenges of sustainability and the changing demographics of our population will require new thinking and multiple actions.  As we increase our understanding of human intelligence and behavior, we know more the value of learning throughout life and how we can learn effectively.  Meanwhile, young people bring with them the expectation not just to sit and listen, but to participate, to interact and to shape.  In our changing context, if we want to help our young people to become the adult they will need to be to prosper in the 21^st century, we need not just to adopt, but to transform.  We need education for 21^st century.

                But what do we mean by 21^st century learning?  According to British Columbia “In 21^st century learning, students use technologies to apply knowledge to new situations, analyze information, collaborate, solve problems and make decisions.”  Technology allows 24/7 access to information, constant social interaction and easily created and shared digital content.

The following are what we believe to be the characteristics of 21^st century learning: (http://www.innovationunit.org/knowledge/our-ideas/21st-century-learning)

1. Students learn through meaningful projects.
2. 2.School is a “base camp” for enquiry.
3. 3.Educators regard themselves as learners as well as teachers.
4. 4.Learners collaborate in their learning, rather than consuming it.
5. 5.Education takes advantage of digital technologies and helps students become both digitally literate and digitally adept.

According to Karen Cator, Director, Office of Educational Technology, U.S Department of Education “Success in the 21^st century requires knowing how to learn.”  Students today will likely have several careers in their lifetime.  They must develop strong critical thinking and interpersonal communication skills in order to be successful in an increasingly fluid, interconnected and complex world.  The opportunities afforded by technology should be used to re-imagine 21^st century education, focusing on preparing students to be learners for life.  Twenty-first-century technology should be seen as an opportunity to acquire more knowledge, not an excuse to know less.

By: Cherry Gil J. Felipe | Teacher I | Ipag Elementary School | Mariveles, Bataan