The ABC’s of 21st Century Learning

If you’re in education, you know that there’s a dizzying amount of terminology to keep up with. Take a look at our dictionary of 2st-century teaching terms to make sure you haven’t missed anything!

A is for Asynchronous Learning

If you weren’t familiar with asynchronous learning before the pandemic, we’re sure you are now. It refers to any learning done on the student’s own time.

What does it look like? One example would be screen recording your own video on Edpuzzle and assigning it for students to watch at home and answer embedded questions.

B is for Blended Learning

When it comes to blended learning, Catlin Tucker says it best:

At its core, blended learning is a shift in control from teacher to learner. The goal of the various blended learning models is to give students more agency over the time, place, pace, and path of their learning.

You’ve likely experienced blended learning in some capacity even if you didn’t realize it at the time. At its most basic level, blended learning is simply the combination of online learning and in-person instruction.

C is for Choice Boards

A choice board is essentially a graphic organizer full of different activity options students can select based on their interests. It has become an incredibly popular resource for differentiation!

Ancient Greece Choice Board: mixing it up with some old and new options @Newsela @edpuzzle @nearpod @duolingo @Flocabulary pic.twitter.com/7kYCCFRo9d

— Lisa Whiston (@SrtaLisa) April 25, 2020

D is for Differentiation

And speaking of differentiation… it takes multiple intelligences into account and the idea that every student has their own unique way that they learn best. Differentiation is designed to meet the needs of each student where they are.

E is for Edpuzzle

It wouldn’t be a 21st century classroom without Edpuzzle! The platform that allows teachers to create their own video or choose one that’s ready-to-go and embed questions and audio is an essential part of the classroom, whether it’s an actual physical space, online, or both!

F is for Flipped Classroom

The flipped classroom is a learning model that “flips” traditional teaching instruction. Instead of learning being presented in an in-class lecture, concepts are introduced via video that students watch at home.

That way, class time is used for practical exercises and answering questions so teachers can give each student as much personal attention as possible.

G is for Gamification

Gamification doesn’t equal students playing video games in class! The concept actually refers to incorporating the elements of a game, like levels, points, or the idea of a journey or quest, into the learning process.

H is for Hybrid Learning

The hybrid learning model encompasses in-class and remote learning. While many schools were forced into a hybrid learning model during the pandemic, it’s also extremely useful for other situations when the in-class model isn’t possible (snow days, absentee students, etc.).

I is for Individualized Instruction

Also known as personalized learning, individualized instruction refers to tailoring teaching to meet each student’s specific, individual needs. Differentiation goes hand-in-hand with this concept.

J is for Job Skills

While a crucial part of the 21st century classroom revolves around digital proficiency, there has also been a push to focus on soft skills and job training. Some of these skills include organization and time management, interpersonal relationships, and public speaking.

K is for Knowledge Sharing

The idea behind knowledge sharing is teaching students the importance of collaboration. For students, it could take the form of a group project, while teachers might share the Edpuzzle videos they create with their colleagues as another example of knowledge sharing.

L is for Learning Analytics

It’s all about the data! Learning analytics refers to using concrete student stats to help customize their learning experiences. In Edpuzzle, for example, you can extract data on how much time each student spends watching the different sections of a video to check for understanding.

M is for Mindfulness

The world is more fast-paced than ever before, and school is no exception. By employing mindfulness in the classroom, you’ll not only help your students cope with stress, you’ll be setting them up with the lifelong skill of dealing with complicated emotions and feelings when times are hard.

N is for Neurodiversity

The term neurodiversity has been in the news a lot recently. Author Jesse Meadows writes that neurodiversity is a paradigm that states, “there is no such thing as a normal brain. Variation in neurology is natural, and none is more right or wrong than another.”

The idea of neurodiversity radically alters the lens through which educators view learning difficulties such as ADHD, autism, or dyslexia.

O is for Online Learning

It’s hard to remember a time before online learning. In fact, the newest generation of teachers entering the classroom won’t remember it at all!

Whether online learning takes a starring role in the form of remote learning, or a supporting role (as one activity in the station rotation model, for example), online learning is a permanent fixture in the 21st century classroom.

P is for Project-Based Learning

According to PBLWorks, this teaching method involves students learning “by actively engaging in real-world and personally meaningful projects.”

Students are evaluated throughout the creation process of their project rather than in a formal test.

Q is for Query-Based Learning (Inquiry-Based Learning)

Another learning model on the list, this one involves sparking a student’s curiosity and following the path that their questions take them on.

Writing for Edutopia, author Heather Wolpert-Gawron states that there are four steps in inquiry-based learning:

1. Students develop questions that they are hungry to answer. 2. Research the topic using time in class. 3. Have students present what they’ve learned. 4. Ask students to reflect on what worked about the process and what didn’t.

What’s better than helping students to answer their own questions?

R is for Real-Time Learning (Synchronous Learning)

Also known as synchronous learning, real-time learning simply refers to students receiving instruction in real time. It could take the form of in-class instruction or doing live mode on Edpuzzle with both students and the teacher in the comfort of their own homes.

S is for Social-Emotional Learning

Commonly known as SEL, social-emotional learning is made up of several competencies.

These include: managing emotions, setting and achieving positive goals, feeling and showing empathy for others, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and making responsible decisions.

T is for Trauma-Informed Teaching

Trauma-informed teaching involves keeping your radar up for signs of trauma in your students and adapting your teaching accordingly.

Seemingly benign actions like closing your eyes could be triggering to some students, so watching for warning signs and being emotionally available are all important to keeping your teaching practice trauma-informed.

U is for Universal Design for Learning

UDL, or Universal Design for Learning, takes differentiation a step further by using cognitive neuroscience as the basis for this model.

Operating on the idea that our learning styles are as unique as our fingerprints, UDL says that goals, methods, materials, and assessments should be adapted to the student’s needs.

V is for Video Learning

In a 2022 study conducted by Kaltura, they found that a whopping 97% of education professionals said that video is essential to students’ academic experiences.

While video learning is just one part of the holistic learning experience, it’s not going anywhere any time soon.

W is for Whole Child Education

A response to the rigors of remote learning during the pandemic, whole child education incorporates intangible skills beyond academic performance, like confidence, self-esteem, social skills, and respect.

X is for XR (Extended Reality)

Extended reality might be coming to your classroom sooner than you think, if Facebook’s metaverse is any indication.

According to Dr. Luke Hobson and Professor Peter Shea, “XR, or Extended Reality, is a term used to capture all the previous 'realities'—augmented reality, mixed reality, virtual reality—under one umbrella. XR describes a virtual space that 'extends' the real world with digital materials.”

Are you ready for the revolution?

Y is for YouTube

There’s no way to talk about 21st century learning without mentioning YouTube. According to the Pew Research Center, 85% of teens say they use YouTube, while 80% of U.S. parents of children 11 and under say their kids watch YouTube. And the final stat – 51% of all YouTube viewers say they use the platform to use a new skill. There’s no denying that this social network has played a huge role in the landscape of modern learning.

Z is for Zoom

If you’ve ever hosted an entire class via Zoom, there’s only one word to describe you: survivor. Whether you’ve already left Zoom behind or you’re still using it for the occasional class or one-to-one session, it’s the word that wraps up our list of the ABC’s of 21st century learning.