Assignment 9

21st Century Learner

Narrative

To succeed in our rapid-paced, global society, our learners must develop a high level of skills,
attitudes and responsibilities. All learners must be able to access high-quality information from
diverse perspectives, make sense of it to draw their own conclusions or create new knowledge,
and share their knowledge with others. Four strands of learning are explained in Standards for
the 21st-Century Learner: Skills, Dispositions in Action, Responsibilities, and Self-Assessment
Strategies.

Demands for the 21
st
century require learners to develop essential skills in order to inquire, think
critically and gain knowledge. Learners are to follow an inquiry by developing questions, that
relate to the essential inquiry, make the real-world connection by connecting ideas and events,
use prior and background knowledge to gain essential background knowledge, and to develop
a range of questions to challenge previous thinking. Learners must think critically and
understand how to distinguish fact from opinion, detect bias, and use additional sources to verify
conflicting information. Students will gain knowledge by demonstrating mastery of technology
tools for accessing information and pursuing inquiry and collaborate with others to broaden and
deepen their understanding.

Learning in the 21
st
century also requires a capacity to learn that reflects a range of dispositions
to draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create
new knowledge. Learners will draw conclusions by realizing that web searching and book
searching require different skills and will adapt accordingly and they will detect conflicting
information and access resources that contribute to thoughtful conclusions. Students will make
informed decisions by using a wide range of possible conclusions and analyze the evidence to
support them. Students will bring the information together to solve a problem or reach a
conclusion. Students must apply knowledge to new situations and explore a wide range of
possible conclusions and analyze the evidence to support them again to bring together
information to solve a problem or reach a conclusion. Last, the 21
st
century learner will create
new knowledge to establish a research plan that outlines learning goals, identifies major talks
and deadlines to achieve steps toward the goal. Students must document progress throughout
the research process, and set and meet high standards and goals for delivering quality work on
time. The 21
st
century learner has responsibilities to share knowledge and participate ethically
and productively as members of our democratic society. Students will present findings of an
inquiry project in an organized, articulate, and poised delivery and freely communicate their
ideas and opinions. In order for students to participate ethically and productively as members of
our democratic society, learners must listen respectfully, offer constructive feedback, contribute
opinions and ideas, take on different roles within the group, and help guide others towards the
goal.

Students learn self-assessment through a number of goals. Learners will pursue aesthetic
growth by exploring print, digital, and other resources, as well as seek diverse opinions and
points of views. The learning will also voluntarily generate questions that go beyond an
assignment and independently pursue answers to self generated questions.

School libraries provide equitable physical and intellectual access to the resources and tools
required for learning. School media specialists collaborate with others to provide instruction,
learning strategies, and practice in using the essential skills needed in the 21
st
century.