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Characteristics of 21st Century Approaches in

EducationBy Andrew Button, eHow Contributor

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Online learning is a major 21st century educational development.

Educational approaches evolve in response to changes in sociology and psychology. As thestructure of the world and our understanding of the mind evolve, old theories of educationbecome outmoded and outdated. In the 21st century, the world is becoming a moreintegrated, technological and global community, while psychology is moving toward amore nuanced and rigorous understanding of individual learning styles. Accordingly, 21stcentury education approaches are being defined by integrated learning technologies andstudent-focused teaching strategies.

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1.Use of Technology

o Learning technology is one of the dominant features of 21st century education. As computerand Internet advances open new possibilities for distance and interactive education,

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educators are increasingly opting to bring more high-tech learning tools into the classroom.Online tools, such as online notes, tests and assignments, allow teachers to deliver materialsto students without being present. Interactive tools, such as games, models and mobileapplications, allow students to learn skills while simultaneously learning course material.

Curriculum Differentiation

o Curriculum differentiation has been a feature of education for decades, but has been givengreater emphasis in 21st century education theories compared to 20th century theories. In21st century education, curriculum differentiation is intended not only to enrich giftedstudents, but also to identify students' talents and interests and provide them with learningchallenges that allow them to grow in a positive direction. One example of 21st centurydifferentiation is the Maker Model, which differentiates according to interests, talents andskills in addition to IQ.

o

Emphasis on Scientific Literacyo Scientific literacy is considered to be a crucial ability for students in the 21st century. As the

21st century progresses, the world faces serious challenges relating to environmentaldegradation and resource depletion. In order for students to understand the challenges the

world faces, they must possess a framework for understanding those challenges.Accordingly, literacy in mathematics, chemistry, biology and economics is consideredessential for 21st century students.

New Approaches in Language Arts

o Language arts reform was a hotly debated topic in the 20th century, and continues to becontentious in the 21st century. Traditionally, language arts courses combined

communication skills with literary knowledge. Throughout much of the 20th century,students would learn grammar, composition and literary history in one interdisciplinarycourse. In the 21st century, this approach is considered ineffective. New language artscourses place emphasis on writing, speaking, media use and research, based on the theorythat students must be able to gather and communicate information effectively in order tomeet the demands of the 21st century economy.

Attention to Social Skills

o The importance of social skills has been acknowledged in 21st century education theory.Twentieth century education placed considerable emphasis on rote learning from one-waylectures, an approach that subtly discouraged social interaction in the learning process.

Twenty-first century education theorists have concluded that this approach was misguided.Not only do collaborative learning projects lead to improved understanding of material, butthey also encourage leadership and cooperation, two skills that are of utmost importance forparticipants in any organization.

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