Students of the 21st Century

Students today learn, act, speak and enjoy things that are vastly different from previous generations of students. A key factor to these changes is the advances of technology. So, is this evolution over the past few years, for better or worse? Well, it is simply a matter of opinion and understanding.

To the previous generations they find the advances of technology to be ludicrous and confusing. These individuals have no concept of how technology works and are simply intimidated by the complexity, speed and consistent advances. For the students who are adapting, engaging and learning all these new advances, it is simply the world in which they live and enjoy. Having the opportunity to live, grow and learn in the beginning portions of the technology era, I must agree with these students’ perspectives that technology is a great thing.

Students now learn much different and need to be engaged much different. They expect to create and share information. They enjoy and embrace the idea of collaboration, most often using the technology of blogs and wikis. Students now spend time playing video games, watching television, engaging computer programs, reading and listening to Ipods. The students enjoy different things and need to be engaged accordingly. I don't believe the majority of teachers are doing a good enough job engaging students.

Most teachers have no idea the amount creativity their students are using outside of the classroom. When students enter classrooms, they feel restricted and are more concerned about the creative things they are using at home or during free time. Teachers must use technology and other engaging activities to enhance student thinking, analyzing, applications and creativity. These students deserve a great education and it is up to a new generation of teachers to understand their students abilities and needs. If teachers are unable to adapt, what type of education system will we be left with? For me, it would be an education system that I would not want to be a representative of.