Understanding 21st Century Learners

Giftedness as potential human trait can be developed to the fullest only when it is identified at an early age. Though there are diverse opinions about the right age to start the identification process, importance of formative years in the development of child is worth considering. The present paper delineates a method of identifying gifted children in the formative years of cognitive development. The method of identification is based on a specially designed activity kit grounded on the theories of cognitive development and cognitive milestones achieved by the child during the formative years of cognitive development. The activity kit, titled as Cognitive Developmental Milestones Kit (I & II), is a hands on activity kit designed at two stages: I & II. Nature and arrangement of the tasks in each stage is progressive and sequential. The final structure of the kit, cognitive challenge of each task and designs of the tasks were developed after two rounds of testing, firstly at pilot level and secondly after testing it on a sample of around 700 children in the age group of 3-7 years. Kit in its final form was further administered on a group of around 2800 children to develop norms for identifying children with advanced cognitive potentials. Cognitive Developmental Milestones Kit (I & II) is not only an effective kit to identify high potential young minds, it is also a useful kit to stimulate all children who are in their formative years of cognitive development. The present paper deliberates the process of designing the kit for cognitively advanced learners. It highlights the process undertaken for field testing, important findings of data analysis and norms developed through data analysis.

21st century learners are living in an advanced world where rapid changes in all aspects are taking place every second especially in technology. Children have tremendous opportunities before them in many fields and they have to take challenges in the competitive world to showcase their talents. Learning should be life long and skill based. Hence the aim of education in the 21st Century should support the learners to be happy, healthy, creative, collaborative, competent, caring and responsible citizens for tomorrow.
Though many reformations in child centered school education are taking place in our country and globally since the last few decades, yet very few studies have been done on understanding learning and grooming  21st century learners  .
This study investigates learners of the adolescent age covering middle and secondary stage of school education and their attitudes, interests, skills, learning styles, socio- cultural background etc. and also investigate the role played by teachers and parents for development and grooming of the learners of the 21st century.
The Research Questions of this study are:
1. Whether our school education gives emphasis on understanding the learners of the 21st century to meet their needs and interests?
2. Whether there is a positive relationship between role played by the parents for grooming of their children focusing on their interests, attitudes, talents etc?
1000 learners of the adolescent stage of the middle and secondary level of schools are the samples of the study. Investigation has been done through field visits, interviews, data collection, observations of schools and classrooms, focus group discussions for teachers and parents.
Collected data on learners’ attitudes, skills, abilities, interests, learning styles, learning strategies and roles played by parents are to be analyzed to find the results. The findings of the investigation will help in future reformation needed for school education and give the present status of parents’ role for grooming 21st century learners.                                            

 

 

 

 

Youth Space is a collaborative project between Yayasan MENDAKI and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to support the holistic development of students. Past Yayasan MENDAKI experience working with youth-at-risk indicates that the youths lack motivation and a safe place to grow. As such, the idea of Youth Space was developed and inaugurated in 2015 at ITE College Central, followed by ITE College East in 2016 and ITE College West in 2017.
The framework of the programme falls under the Future Ready pillar of Yayasan MENDAKI, with the other two pillars are School Ready, and Perform in School. The three strategic pillars aim to ensure that Yayasan MENDAKI’s programmes encompass holistic learning and development for children to adults.
The research question for this presentation is; How Yayasan MENDAKI pursues the joy of learning among ITE youths? This is in-line with the objective of the programme which is to provide unique engagement that aims to excite, motivate and strengthen the resolve of youths to steer their lives towards their desired achievements.
The methodology of the programme is (i) the mode of purposeful engagement, (ii) groupthink process and dynamics, and (iii) group facilitation. Based on the methodology of the programme, Youth Space provides the following services for the students; (i) Activities focusing on 21st century skills, (ii) Developmental programmes, and (iii) Mentoring.
The success of this programme can be deliberated via the Visitor Management System, an automated system that allows the collection and analysis of walk-in data. Each Youth Space engages up to 100 students each day, with a total of more than 30,000 walk-ins and engagements since 2015.  This indicates that the Youth Space is relevant for the students to learn and gain benefit from.
At the end of their studies at ITE along with the learning experience at Youth Space, the students are expected to be confident individuals who are ready to be an active contributing member to the society.