Digital-Age Learning

Given the realities of globalization, knowledge work, and accelerating societal change, it's obvious that what students learn—as well as how and when they learn—is changing.

Over the last decade, there were tremendous advances in the science of learning, made possible by the convergence of research in the cognitive sciences, neuroscience, human development, and technology. As a result, we know more today about how people think and learn (Bransford, Brown, & Cocking, 1999).

For starters, the research clearly shows that students learn more when they are engaged in meaningful, relevant, and intellectually stimulating work (Newmann, Bryk, & Nagaoka, 2001). While all learning is deeply personal, the frequency and relevance of such moments increase when technology enables us to tap outside experts; visualize and analyze data; link to real-world contexts; and take advantage of opportunities for feedback, reflection, and analysis (Bransford et al., 1999).

Technology influences learning in three significant ways. A synthesis of recent research and national skill sets shows that technology can be a driver of change, a bridge to academic excellence, and a platform for informed decision making and accountability:

1. A Driver for Change: The 21st Century Skills

   Technology has catapulted us into a knowledge-based, global society. It is clear that success in this society will require significantly different skills than in the past (CEO Forum, 2001; International ICT Literacy Panel, 2002). However, policymakers and educators have not yet clearly defined what it means to be "educated" in a Digital Age. The irony of a call for 21st century skills in this era of high-stakes testing based on conventional metrics is not lost on teachers. To fully realize the educational opportunities that 21st century skills can bring to students, education leaders must formally incorporate them into the mainstream of school curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

2. A Bridge to High Academic Achievement

   Technology serves as a bridge to more engaged, relevant, meaningful, and personalized learning—all of which can lead to higher academic achievement. Research indicates that when technology is used appropriately, children learn more, even as measured by conventional tests (Newmann et al., 2001; Wenglinsky, 1998). It is important to demonstrate this research link to teachers, thereby encouraging them to incorporate technology into the mainstream of student learning.

3. A Platform for Informed Decision Making and Accountability

   Technology provides a platform for more informed decision making using timely, meaningful data to shape learning opportunities. This situation translates into more personalized learning based on continuous feedback available to students, teachers, and parents. The challenge lies in building such accountability systems on the foundation of the right indicators—indicators that lead to high academic standards and 21st century skills. Only this foundation will enable true Digital Age readiness.

Educators have no choice. The times require that schools change or become obsolete. Just as doctors must stay abreast of the latest medical research and lawyers must keep up with case law, educators must stay current with practices that optimize student learning. While this practice may be happening in some schools and districts, all of our schools need to become organizations that formally and systematically use research results to drive systemwide change. This approach is particularly important in the current era of high-stakes assessment.

Such a transition will require teachers and administrators themselves to become knowledge workers with 21st century skill sets. School leaders need to drive change, taking on new, collaborative roles and using inventive thinking to integrate the emerging "science of learning" into their school systems. All students should have the opportunity to attend dynamic, high-quality schools designed to meet the challenges of the Digital Age. The implications for pedagogy, teacher and student roles, curriculum, assessment, infrastructure, and the community are significant. In short, the 21st century skills should form a major part of the foundation of improvement processes in schools.

The 21st century skills identified in this publication are meant to be considered in the context of academic content and standards-based reform. Examples of actual classroom practices follow the briefing pages describing each of the skills. These classrooms exemplify the ways in which 21st century skills can breathe new life into academic content, leveraging technology in ways that powerfully advance learning by strengthening student engagement in challenging, authentic, and intellectual work.

The research indicates that all children—regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic status, and academic status—can excel when immersed in such meaningful, challenging work (Newmann et al., 2001).

Quoted from: http://www.ncrel.org/engauge/skills/agelearn.htm

Here's the tip to become a successful government professional / politicians.

You must have at least some of the listed skills below:

Analytical Skills

Today’s workplace is becoming technologically advanced and complex, with an increasing need for analytical thinking to perform optimally. Improve your ability to structure questions and reach conclusions while analyzing information. Learn how to gather, review and evaluate data needed to formulate and express compelling arguments. Focus on understanding and using methods of qualitative and quantitative analysis. This includes data variability, decision-making, and data presentation in support of an argument.

Business Writing Skills

Effective writing requires more than fundamental writing skills and there is no substitute for a well-written document. Learn how to organize, research, develop and edit winning documents as you sharpen your business writing skills. Examine different forms of written communication and learn to make all components of your writing contribute to the desired outcome. Various writing exercises and assignments will help you analyze your audience and purpose in order to format and design documents based on subject matter, content, and reader needs.

Completed Staff Work

Completed staff work is a strategy that can be used to effectively recommend solutions to management problems. The concepts of critical thinking and completed staff work are introduced, along with associated barriers and problems of completed staff work that may arise. Learn to apply the seven steps to systematic analysis and use an action memo to prepare written recommendations.

Grammar Matters

Improve grammar sentences for all language you speak. Write your proposal, papers, research, etc in proper grammar matters. Speak using the proper and professional language.

Interpersonal Skills for Difficult Situations

Good communication skills are the cornerstone of strong workplace and social relationships. Examine your communication style in order to improve your interpersonal skills and alter behavioral patterns. Learn how to apply interpersonal effectiveness principles in individual and group situations. Identify how messages are conveyed through verbal and non-verbal communication, and respond effectively to multiple demands. Use skillful questioning to avoid ambiguity, give and receive constructive criticism and deal with difficult behavior. Combine these skills to develop a personal “communication tool kit” as a future reference for your most successful styles and principles.

Legislative Process/Bill Analysis

Examine and analyze the institutions, people and behaviors that make up the legislative process. Become acquainted with the role and impact of committee structure, constitutional offices, interest groups, political parties and other aspects of public policy. This backdrop is then related to the life of a bill and the bill analysis procedure. Learn to identify the key components and sections of a bill, write a complete bill analysis, review the legislative calendar and use the Internet to locate relevant state legislative Web sites.

Performance Appraisal

Prepare, plan, and conduct performance appraisals and communicate expectations and results. 

Project Management

Project management is a highly desired skill-set in government agencies. Projects must be completed on time and within budget as well as meeting quality standards and the agreed upon scope of work.

Strategic Planning Overview

Learn to identify effective components within a strategic plan, how they are developed and the importance of linking each into a comprehensive plan for the organization. Explore techniques and methods for the development of strategic plan components and evaluate your own organization's strategic planning efforts. 

The Power and Purpose of Words

Words unlock the world. Learn how to recognize their power and purpose by expanding your vocabulary and spelling skills through an in-depth study of roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Learn how to quickly assess difficult paragraphs and examine words in context.

Time Management

Learn to identify and eliminate obstacles prohibiting productivity. Develop effective tactics for organizing and managing tasks, and establish a work environment conducive toward reaching accomplishments. Gain tips, tools and techniques that enable you to set and achieve goals while minimizing stress, redundancies, and distractions. Through activity logs, discussion, planning exercises, problem solving, progress checks and readings, participants will apply skills to achieve higher levels of efficiency and balance at work and at home.

Here is what they communicate:

• Amount of time to be devoted (usually 10-15 hours per week)
• Degree of interaction required (and tools used)
• Emphasis on self-motivation
• The use of an instructor (and therefore preparation related to that)
• Entrance Requirements
• A 'classroom'
• Time-dependency

These may be accurate requirements (and important information) for learning online, but the emphasis is not explicitly on learning - it is how to function effectively according to the manner in which the course is designed. Informal learning (like listservs, Internet searches, or even this "noncourse") have few restrictions and allow learners to perform at their own level of need.

Regardless of the formality of online learning, basic computer and Internet skill, decent connection are a must. These are, however, foundational skills that must be developed in students before learning can occur. They may not be included in every course, but remedial resources should always be listed to direct students to additional help.