Web 2.0, New Tools, New Schools -- Chapter 2 (students and learning)

Technology and its customization is important to the 21st century student. Educators needs to learn how to meet the needs of their students based on their student's expectations, not the teachers in regards to how the student learns. Everyone learns in their own unique way -- but today's students want technology included in their process for learning and in the teaching they receive from teachers. That is where these digital natives are most comfortable (and we know that environment plays a huge role in the learning process), but educators have not arrived at the same point that their students have. Perhaps the tipping point will arrive soon and I do believe the tipping point is on the way. Solomon and Schrum share in their book, Web 2.o, New Tools, New Schools, "Students come to school knowledgeable about the Web and its potential, are comfortable using it, and expect learning in school to be more like learning on their own." I feel today's students will embrace the concept of being lifelong learners as they mature, but do need to be provided with the tools to be a lifelong learner and that is where educators(and librarians) can have a hug impact on 21st century students and society as a whole. We have a huge responsibility to direct our youth in the proper direction for the greater good of society. In order to do so we must step up to the plate and be willing make changes in the way we educate students.

I found the revision to Bloom's Taxonomy extremely interesting and am glad that it has happened. I do hope that many educators will embrace these changes as positive and note how they fall in alignment with the use of Web 2.o tools and how students of the 21st century think. This revised taxonomy allows for the move to creating and sharing -- rather than clicking and linking when using technology. This new hierarchy of learning will assist students in preparing themselves for the job market that is yet to come and enable them to acquire the skills needed to adapt when necessary to new and different jobs (jobs we don't even know that exist as yet). We, as educators, must accept that the new revolution in society is connectivism -- just because it makes older educators uncomfortable doesn't mean it makes our students uncomfortable or some of our colleagues. Change is in the wind and we need to accept it. The challenge being thrust upon us is to learn to tell our stories in a different way and through a different media than we have ever done so before. I am excited about the challenge and plan to have fun learning along the way!