The+21st+Century+Learner

From sources such as Tapscott (2008) and Woocher (In Goodman, Flexner, & Bloomberg, 2008) I have distilled the following characteristics of GenNext as students and the soon to be adults that we are planning for today:

As a group they are diverse, reflecting the changing demographic of theAmerican community. For example, Asian and African-American students study alongside the children of Russian, Middle Eastern or South American immigrants. They can comfortably juggle different identities. All in all, they have been taught to value diversity and are very much the product of a society that promotes Multi-culturalism and Universalistic ideals.
 * Diversity **

This generation is not interested in “just-in-case” learning; they want to learn what they need to know to get the job done. They are looking for concrete and relevant educational experiences. “How-to” videos and tutorials of all kinds encourage their expectation that every task and idea can be unlocked on the Internet. They are most likely to ask “what can this information do for me?” In a world of abundant knowledge and opinion, this generation refuses to be shackled by dogma. They feel free to question authority and closely examine information. These students will respond best to a learning environment that is open-minded and encourages inquiry.
 * Relevance **
 * The Rejection of Dogma **

While their personal compasses may not be the same as their parents’, GenNext is still value driven. The value mantra of the greater society, including such things as sustainability, equality and justice is also reflected in the activities of GenNext. One of the principal differences in this generation is that Web 2.0 has empowered them to communicate their values and share their actions far beyond the boundaries of the classroom or home. Many teens already have experienced on-line or technology assisted service projects.
 * Values-orientation **

GenNext are educated consumers, demanding quality and expecting choices in every arena of life, including education. Further, they are prosumers, who prefer to have an active role in creating their own educational experiences as they do their own entertainment. They appreciate customizable options that offer flexible scheduling, personalized learning or work plans and the option to work/study in different modalities. The one-size-fits-all approach is finished. Community takes many forms for GenNext and does not observe geographic, ideological or programmatic boundaries. In addition to participating in numerous social networks, students may find themselves in game-related communities, as well as those that are school, camp or youth group based.
 * Customization **
 * Community and Collaboration **