21st Century Learners

I think that the ideas of digital natives and immigrants is so fitting in regards to engagement with technologies in the 21st Century. Many Learning Managers would identify with feeling like a digital immigrant. That is, they are slowly being introduced to digital technologies and are learning on their feet. Our students who are 21st Century learners however, are digital natives. They are being born, raised, and being exposed to digital resources continuously. They are familiar, competent, and reliant on them.

The idea of our learner's becoming engaged or enraged is a relevant one. If our classrooms are not integrating with the digital technologies that students are using outside of the classroom then they are going to quickly become disengaged. As Learning Managers we need to be life long learners who are learning to use and integrate technologies into our learning experiences. Technology should not be an add on on the side, but a fundamental part of initial planning.