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Jose M Arreaga
March 23, 2014
Professor Sansing
English 1001
Research Project
The 21st Century Student
Technology has invokes conversation in all areas are highly in life
especially in social media and alternate communication outlets. In order to
understand future plans, the learning environment shifted when developed
countries adopted technology into classrooms. Also, technology has made
become a trend and style for many students. . It has impacted the 21st
century individuals that are young, tech-savvy, and multitasker. It is not only
a trend in the developed countries such as the United States, but also a
desire for underdeveloped countries such as Congo Democratic Republic. In
the near future, there are plans by companies such as Google, Bill Gates
Foundation, and other successful companies to expand these outlets to third
world countries. The core idea of these companies plan is to alternate the
use of technology for an accessible learning environment to all. To approach
this new environment technology has to be accessible in tutoring and
mentorship. In these new learning evniorment the use of 21st century
technology adds to the virtual world of young people, and impacts students
thinking process.
The new learning system is introduced by the use of social media,
accessibility, and affordability. Many of common objects young students have

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are platforms like laptops, smart phones, and tablets that allow internet
access. This connectivity, allows young people to email, messenger, video
chats, and various social media outlets. Many young students have places to
get these types of platforms. These places include the public library,
government buildings, parish, and non-profit organizations. Lastly, platforms
themselves are cost efficient by cutting down on transportation, student and
teacher ratio, and school supplies. The new learning environment is
comprised of technology that is essential to the 21st century tutoring.
Technology has become a viral in the 21st century. According to Nancy
Blair and the American Learning Association, technology has impact young
people to become more tech-savvy and multitaskers. Blair synthesis a
relation between technology and The Four Big Cs i.e., Critical Thinking,
Creativity, Communication, and Collaboration. In which, critical thinking is a
way for students to imagine things outside the box. Creativity is a way for
students to express their emotions and desires. Communication is where
students can socialize with other students or teachers. Finally, collaboration
where the students gather all of their new information and make new ideas
happen. The flow of this system is pretty simple for a learning environment
but brings a lot of comprehensive ideas amongst students and teacher via
technology.
Tutoring is an important fact in a young students education. It can be
described as mentorship, networking, or even workshops. A mentorship is a
way for a student to build a relations in a particular field of interest.

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Networking is a way for student to connect with one another and other
professionals. A workshop is a program for students to be exposed to
different the types of career interests. Everything that contributes to a
students education outside of class will greatly affect the way they learn
new material. A virtual learning environment is no different. Facts and
knowledge are thought in the classroom but there are ways to enhance a
student learning process. The importance of tutoring is to obtain an identity
between the student and the tutor. Through the composition of mentorship,
networking and workshops via technology the student can gain a full
understanding of tutoring. According to Gee, No deep learning takes place
unless learners make an extended commitment of self, (Gee 34). As Gee
synthesized, players can become committed to the new learning
environment and they will live, learn, and adapt through their commitment to
self. Also, a gamer interested in immersing themselves in the game and
incorporate their skills and talents. To bring out the best and worst in the
learning process you have to make a deep dive into commitment to self. In
order to demonstrate who the students and gamers identity is, they have to
take risks to gain good experiences.
If we look at a gamers world, we see that there is a deep learning phase.
According to research done by Gabe Zichermann, we see that playing video games
like Mario Kart from Nintendo makes a person productive. It creates for the gamer
an augmented reality and makes them more susceptible to success. The crucial
component is the risk taking and the multi-tasking that games like Mario Kart which

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makes gamers better problem-solvers (Zichermann). According to Zichermann,
games make an idealized society for gamers, and so, it can make a smarter and
committed student even in a virtual classroom.

The technology can help add an efficient line for tutoring between a
student and a tutor. Near in the future, technology will reach more people.
There were be more accessibility for a young person to obtain connection
online. With this in mind, online learning can take place. A good way to use
this learning process is by making tutoring accessible to anyone. Tutoring
online can have the same affects as a one-on-one learning techniques.
Disregarding the physical relationship, tutoring will affect a young person
perspective on learning. As indicated in this passage, Traditionally, we think
of students as absorbing the knowledge of the teachers. We wanted to teach
the students to actually create knowledge, to become producers of
knowledge." (Kearney 209) from this passage of More than a Dream the
developing student can learn more through the help of technology.
In the online world tutoring can be defined as tutorials, DIY (Do it
yourself), or how to videos. Furthermore, Not only an online one-on-one
sessions but also information such as post, shares, and forums indicating
tutorials will exchange the students ability to attempt the topic by
themselves. For example, using Facebook for attaining further clarification
guitar sessions. Or using YouTube to clarify the algebra problem. The
methods are ways in which both students have awareness and
understanding. Awareness comes from a realization that it is possible to

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achieve a task. Understanding then comes afterwards, where the student

adapts to the changes the task makes. For example, a tutorial on making a
website: first a student has to be aware of the requirements, such as a
computer, then after completing the task. Afterwards, the student has to
understand the changes and learning that took place. At the same time,
students can take an advantage of this types of tutoring is convenience,
accessibility, and public format.
In the 21st Century tutoring can help many students all over the world
to enhance their learning process. Through physical and online encounters, it
is easy to identify the way tutoring has made the use of higher education to
many young students. The advantages that come from this learning
environment also comes with the early awareness of technology. However,
learning programs implement in the world are vary in many ways. As stated
by Malala, Let us pick up our books and our pens, I said. They are our
most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can
change the world(Malala 3). From Malalas quotes the use of technology can
close the gap between young people and education which is through an
efficient learning environment. The modern world has different views and
systems that make an uneven platform for countries to be compared. At the
same time it is essential to see the reason countries are split with barriers.
The modern world, at a glance, is split between two spectrums that
affect this growing learning environment. The spectrums include first world
countries such as the United States and third world countries such as Congo

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Democratic Republic. Major difference occur between these countries in the

economic structure, life expectancy, and school system. According to the
Data World Bank, A country like the United States has a gross national
product G.N.P. per capita of $53,470.00, with a life expectancy of 79 years,
and a general school attends of 98%. In contrast a country like Congo
Democratic Republic has a G.N.P. per capita of $430.00, with a life
expectancy of 50 years, and a national school attendance rate of 110%. The
statistics exemplify the regions accessibility to technology. According to Blair,
if people dont have computers, then they still have each other and outside
resources.
Technology ties advancement of learning not only to developed
countries but for the underdeveloped countries. A main focus in the 21st
century is to bring education to the misrepresented countries with the lack of
professionals. A way to reach many of these countries is by using technology.
According to Blair, new students with technology in all third world countries
is very unlikely. The Gates Foundation, has stated support to the idea of
alternative technology to be used in these countries. In Africa, the Bill Gates
Foundation has helped several school in having basic internet and
technology access. In addition, according to Discover News, the Google
Corporation, is in the process of developing balloons that connect devices
nearby to internet. From these companies we see a constant increase for the
advancement to technology in underdeveloped countries. In Kerchners
article, he states that internet and technology play a major role for students

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to learn about networking. Simply by having a Facebook account, a new

student has the ability to connect with others from different parts of the
world.
The main idea from these major organization and corporations is to
individualize learning, make technology understandable, and open new
resources to students in different regions. The Gates Foundation plans to
individuals learning through the platforms and accessibility for young
students. With this accessibility, the teaching style for third world countries
can be implemented through tutoring. Where a student can use any type of
platform to communicator with a tutor or mentor. Another idea is to make
technology understandable, according to the Discover News, the LOON
project is implementing internet connectivity to for other countries to
oversee. This would allow students to use platforms and communicate with
other student and tutors in other regions. The LOON project has a simple
design and would be accessible more towards the younger generation.
Finally, another idea is to open new resources to students. The Gates
Foundation has also made a lot of facilities and constructing many for
students who need the general education. Within these major organization
and corporations the goal is to modernize learning for all 21st student around
the world.
Tutoring is an important source for students all over the world since it
brings an understanding of education. The use of education makes student
aware of resources and even the ability to become successful like their peers

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from a different region. According to Kearney, student are more susceptible

to success when they see, meet, and get to know someone who is
successful. This is the essential part of tutoring. By incorporating technology
between a student in a third world country to tutor in the first world country.
It would look as if a student from Congo Democratic Republic were talking
live via Facebook to a teacher from the United States about math homework.
The idea not only is useful for a mentorship relationship but for networking
and workshops.
The ability to network and learn for all most all 21st century student is
still in its process. However, the results from these new learning environment
will bring its own concerns. A major concern would be traditional teaching
methods such as a teacher and students physically meeting with lectures,
group work, and independent study will be into question. With the new
learning environment there will be little to no physical interactions and group
works, although, it may bring a one on one session between teacher/mentor
with student. Another concern is the excessive virtual world that may
attribute cyberbullying and social shaming. A new learning environment
would bring harmful effects to participants. From the other side, a virtual
world broadens the beneficial networks for new students. Lastly, a third
concern is the students new thinking process. The 21st will bring even more
young, tech-savvy, and multitasker individuals. A negative affect is
deprivation, a study by OHara, shows that students face a challenge with
the overwhelming mass of data from technology. On the contrary, a new

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learning environment brings information that a student can benefit for a

greater understanding on courses. Networking is worth as much as
mentoring also in the process is workshops.
Workshops in the 21st century can bring many benefits to student all
over the world. From having physical or virtual workshop, can make an
impact in a students educational life because it will be making them think of
a career. As previously mentioned, social media is a great way for student to
pretend and be success. While doing so, student can use virtual workshop to
imagine success in careers such as Engineering, Medicine, Politics, etc.
According to Cuddy, power posing is a way of demonstrating success. Many
ways in which virtual workshop can correlate is by using affordable social
media and convenient places. An example is a Skype conference call
between a professor in biology and several student pursing a biology career.
The interaction will be solely on biology but at the same time student will
have time to see, meet and get to know a biology enthusiastic. This example
can apply for all careers focus and used even with people in different
regions. For student to express that in different regions technology can make
a difference. As much as mentoring, networking, and workshops make a
difference in a student life. A life of a student can change in an efficient
learning environment.
Overall, the 21st century brings the learning environment into a
revolutionary way of teaching young students. The trend of technology from
developed countries sparked class rooms to use them as a tool to

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communicate with the new students. From successful companies efforts to

make alternative technology into third world countries. Learning creates a
hostile environment wherever an individual goes. From Gees article,
computer and keyboard are efficient tools to understand course. Through
accessibility, many students can understand the of social media outlets as a
way understanding technology. Secondly, individualize learning can take
place once student meets their learning environment and his/her tutor.
Individualize learning can not only shape the student to be more
independent but also focus on a career path for the future. Tutoring in the
21st century is not only compromised by tutoring but also with mentorship,
networking, and workshops which bring outside resources to student
otherwise would not have met. The new learning environment brings social
media, accessibility, and affordability as major key factor for students all
over the world. Many of these factors contribute to the economy, population,
and school system. In addition, the students advancement in education
create a more hostile environment for success. As a result, the 21st century
student will surpass with benefits rather than disadvantage in the new
learning environment, overall, it will bring a better understanding to todays
technologized society.

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Annotated Bibliography: The 21st Century Student

Gee, James Paul. Good Video Games and Good Learning. Phi Kappa Phi
Forum 85.2 (2005): 33-37. Print. 5 March 2015.
Yousafzi, Malala, and Christina Lamb. I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood up
for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban. N.p: n.p., N.d. Print. 12
Dec. 2014.
Kearney, G.R. More than a Dream. Chicago: Loyla, 2004. Print. 4 Jan. 2015.
Blair, Nancy. Technology Interrogation for the New 21st Century Learner.
National Association of Elementary School Principals. Principal
January/February 2012: Technology, Feb. 2012. Web. 1 March 2015.
Kerchner, Charles Taylor. Education Technology Policy for a 21st Century
Learning System. Policy Analysis for California Education. Policy Briefs.
2013. Web. 1 March 2015.
OHara, Susan. What Is the impact of Technology on Learning? Pearson
Allyn Beacon Prentice Hall. 2014. Web. 23 March 2015.
Laci Green. Discover News. Web. April 23, 2014.
https://youtu.be/q1mBLIksQ6M
Cuddy, Amy. Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are TEDGlobal. Jun
2012. Web video April 22, 2015
Zichermann, Gabe. How Games Make Kids Smarter. TEDxKids@Brussels.
Jun 2011. Web video. 30 March 2015.