Ertmer+&+Leftwich+Quote

Ertmer, P A, & Ottenbreit-Leftwich, A T (Spring 2010). Teacher technology change: how knowledge, confidence, beliefs, and culture intersect. //Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 42, 3. p.255(30).//

“As with other professionals, we expect teachers to use technology in ways that extend and increase their effectiveness. It is no longer appropriate to suggest that teachers’ low-level uses of technology are adequate to meet the needs of the 21st-century learner.”

This is stinging but in many instances very true. This quote is a tell-tale sign of the resistance to technology and how slow some are to adopt and adapt. There are some many technologies that can support learning and not to use them is doing a disservice to students of various learning styles and abilities. This happens both on-ground and online. The 21st-century learner is an engaged learner and educators must use the available tools to engage them.

This is especially important for eLearning as well. While the 21st-century learner has largely “grown-up digital,” they appear to be more relational that the GEN-X or Baby-Boomer demographic. While the latter will sit in a seminar, take notes, and then go their way, the former will not have any part of that. They must interact with others, with the learning content, and with their mentors. To not use the familiar technologies like simulations (yes, games), social media, and collaborative tools is a gross error.