Learning

Theories in the 21st Century

Inquiry Learning

Project Based Learning

A dynamic classroom approach, which permits students to actively explore real-
world problems and challenges, to acquire a deeper understanding. This approach
to instruction is relevant for todays learners as it encourages students to
investigate, research, conduct their own solutions, collaborate, analyze, create and
publish their own work for authentic audiences, which are skills that are crucial
for students to acquire. Project based learning also engages diverse learners as it
emphasizes active, student-directed learning, in a hands-on manner, and provides
students with more choices when demonstrating what they comprehend.
Example: Instead of learning about nutrition in the form of a lecture style, have
students act as consultants to develop a healthier school cafeteria menu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMCZvGesRz8

Design Learning
A learning theory that is highly appropriate in the 21st century as it
recognizes that the way each student learns is unique. It focuses on
students strengths and provides flexibility in terms of accommodations,
support, and approaches to learning, to meet the individuals needs,
abilities, and interests. It permits educators to present the information
and content in various ways, differentiate the ways that students express
their understanding, and provides multiple methods of engagement,
stimulating interest and motivating learners.
Example: Providing students with various methods of learning the lesson
content (e.g., visual, voice clips, video, hands-on) and allowing them to
choose the methods that best suits their needs.

Maker Space Learning

A hands-on learning experience for students developed through building

This learning practice encourages students to explore the do it
things.

yourself culture of fixing, improving, and creating. It is designed to
accommodate a wide range of activities, tools and materials, allowing for
diversity of activities, which is critical to the design, making and
exploring process. This type of learning is beneficial for students in
todays schools, as it provides them with an opportunity and an outlet to
be imaginative and experiment with their own creativity.
Example: Providing different workstations for students to visit, based on
their interests (e.g., take apart station computer parts that are available
to disassemble and put back together).
http://renovatedlearning.com/makerspace-resources/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=40&v=zZE8nCABAX4

An approach to instruction that begins with exploring lesson

content and providing opportunities for students to ask their
own questions which builds interest and curiosity. This type of
learning is relevant in the 21st century as students are
encouraged to be active learners posing their own questions
and problems, and developing their own answers and opinions.
This builds greater student engagement, compared to teacher-
directed teaching where passive learners simply receive
information, which results in greater student achievement.
Example: Asking students what do we want to understand more
deeply?
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/inspire/rese
arch/CBS_StudentInquiry.pdf

Problem Based Learning

Based on the complex problems

encountered in the real world, w hich
encourages learners to develop skills
identifying the problem,
around
collecting information, and developing
possible appropriate solutions. This is
appealing to students in todays
society as they are able to connect
they are learning in class to their
what
own lives and important and relevant
issues in the world. It is important for
to partake in problem based
students
learning to acquire skills to be self-
directed, critical thinkers, problem
solvers, and analytical, which will be
beneficial in their personal and future
professional lives. It also allows
students to take more responsibility
for their own learning and become
increasingly independent for their
own education.
Example: Prompting students with a
question, and having them develop
solutions (e.g., How can we limit food
waste in the school cafeteria?)

Experimental Learning

Experimental learning is the

process of learning through
experience or doing. It is a
method of educating through
first-hand experience, where
skills, knowledge and
experience are learned
outside of the traditional
classroom setting, and are
developed in learning
environments such as field
trips, service learning
projects, studying abroad,
etc. The relevancy of this
type of learning in todays
society is that it provides
students with real-life,
concrete examples and
experiences, which provides
students with a better
understanding and
connection to the lesson
content.
Example: Going on a field trip
that is related to the
lesson/unit content.