Education in the 21st Century: Alternative Learning and Democracy

This assignment consists of two essays focused on education in the 21st century. The first essay explores alternative learning options, specifically unschooling, discussing its pros and cons and recommending it for the author's child due to its freedom and focus on creativity. It contrasts this with traditional learning, highlighting the potential benefits of unschooling in a rapidly changing job market. The second essay examines the philosophical and sociological arguments surrounding education's role in fostering a future democratic society. It emphasizes civic responsibility, environmental care, and equal learning opportunities, aligning with the goals of establishing a meritocratic society and promoting inclusivity in education. The essay concludes that education should promote life ideals, societal norms, civic engagement, environmental stewardship, and equal access for all.

Running head: EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Education in the 21st Century
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Essay 1: Alternative Learning Options in the 21st Century
Introduction
Alternative learning option serves different types of students with their agreed on
characteristics (Greiff et al., 2014). This study will be focused on unschooling learning option
that is quite different from traditional learning options. Moreover, the study will demonstrate the
pros and cons of this learning option. Apart from that, the study will also select the best learning
option for my child and compare the learning option applied on me and my child.
Discussion
Unschooling is the learning method and philosophy in which the learner chosen activities
are considered as the primary method learning. The students pursuing unschooling learning can
learn through natural life experience like household responsibilities, play, curiosity, work
experience, internship, family, books, social interaction, personal interest, travel and many
others. Unlike the traditional learning options, the children under unschooling are free from any
kind of burden and control of education. Moreover, Hodson (2014) opined that unschooling
learning option functions with the faith that the children are naturally curious and definitely
follow their own interest for learning in their own way. Moreover, the children are permitted to
learn through real life experiences, which make them stronger enough towards dealing with real
life issues. Hence, this learning option would best fit my learning style. However, Chaim and
Kong (2017) opined that lack of proper structure and standardization of education testing may
lead to knowledge gap among the children. Hence, such children can lag behind the others in
term of competing with the educational competition.

2EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY
According to Greiff et al. (2014) unschooling creates a learning environment, where the
children are allowed to grow and nurture their creative ideas for enhancing their learning
opportunities. In this way, such learning option results in enhance creativity and willingness of
new learning among the children. However, Chai et al. (2017) opined that unlike the traditional
schooling, unschooling learning does not have any specific arrangement and organization.
Hence, the children may not develop their organized skills towards organizing their real life.
Such learning option enhances the emotional strength of the children due to their increased
family interaction.
I would recommend unschooling learning alternative for my child, as it is free from
burden and control of traditional educational option. The child would be able to take cues from
their passion and learn as and when required. The particular learning method would definitely
encourage the natural and self-learning process, where they are allowed enough freedom to their
own way or interest of learning (Neuman & Guterman, 2017). In traditional learning method, the
teachers used to impose demand for traditional educational curriculum that actually increases the
stress for the children. However, lack of structured educational curriculum and grading system in
unschooling reduces the mental stress of the children. Hence, the child would get proper
environment for his/her proper mental upbringing. Apart from that, this learning method
provided enough opportunity to the children for their increasing bonding with their family
members. Hence, the child will better understand the way of making relationship with others that
can help them in their professional career.
In comparison with me, the unschooling learning option would be best suited for my
child. In contemporary educational and job market, there are still many institutions or
organizations, which demands higher grades in educational qualification for getting chance. In

3EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY
such situation, lack of proper grade of unschooling method can be inconvenient for me to get
admission in higher studies or getting job scope in reputed organization. However, in case of my
child, unschooling would be perfect for his educational as well as career excellence. Moreover, it
has been estimated that 65% today’s children are going to do jobs that do not exist currently
(Chai & Kong, 2017). Hence, the traditional skills and talents may be obsolete for performing
such innovative kinds of job. In such situation, the innovative and creative learning of
unschooling learning option can foster huge creativity among the contemporary children. Hence,
my child would be better ready for opting for such new kind of jobs.
Conclusion
While concluding the study, it can be said that unschooling learning option give enough
freedom to the children for learning in their own way. They can choose their own interested area
for learning through their passion. Such learning option does not have any grading system and
the children do not have to give any test for proving their educational progress. Hence, it reduces
the level of mental stress of the children leading to proper mental upbringing. The learning
option would be best suited for my child, as provides the scope enhancing the creativity and
innovation level of education. Hence, the child would be better get ready for opting for any new
kind of job.

4EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Essay 2: Education in a Future Democratic Society: The Ethical Goal of a Level Playing
Field
Introduction
Education plays an important role in establishing a responsible future democratic society
in global basis (Zeichner et al., 2015). The study will examine the philosophical and sociological
arguments regarding the “ends” and “means” of education. Apart from that, the study will also
demonstrate the role of education in promoting civic responsibility and caring for environment.
On the other hand, the study will be concerned with the role of education in promoting equal
learning opportunities.
Discussion
In case of Philosophical argument regarding the “ends” and “means” education, means
defines the way of gathering education and ends is the result of having education. According to
Biesta (2015), education acts as the laboratory, where the philosophic distinctions are tested and
become concrete. Moreover, philosophy can be means of education through which education
transmit the education from one generation to others. It also provides aims of education, which
decides methods, curriculum, discipline, test books, the school discipline and the role of teacher.
As per philosophical perspective, education is the best means of realizing the ideals of lives.
Philosophy seems to be dealing with the ends and education seems to dealing with the means of
achieving those ends. On the other hand, Fredlund et al. (2015) opined that sociological aspect
of education deals with making the large of social system. In case of sociology, interconnected
social system act at the ends and education acts as the means of achieving those ends. Moreover,
just like the social system, education has the social structure of making social interaction with the

5EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY
schools. Apart from that, education in the schools prepares the individual students towards
learning their social roles. In this way, education acts as proper means of shaping the attitude,
behavior and norms of the students.
The public education in 21st century has essentially included civic responsibility in the
educational curriculum. Since the inception of service learning, most of the universities and
colleges have incorporated civic responsibility as he part of their educational curriculum. Such
civic education promotes the understanding of the ideas related to democracy in the democratic
society. Furthermore, the education is also associated with learning of reasoned commitment in
regards to principles and values of democracy. On the other hand, Huda et al. (2018) opined that
the students can also learn about their roles as being citizen of society. Hence, such education
promotes their social responsibility. Apart from that, the students can also gain knowledge about
the roles of government, politics and civic system for dealing with social issues. Hence, such
students can better contribute in formation of organized democratic society.
21st century public education is also associated with promoting the care for the
environment. Most of the universities and colleges have incorporated environmental education
as the mandatory part of their educational curriculum. Chai et al. (2017) pointed out that
environmental education promotes the understanding of connection between the eco-effective
welfare society and human wellbeing. Some vocation education programs also allow the students
to participate in the practical activities of caring for environment. In this way, such students
become high interested in caring for environment and gain practical knowledge in protecting the
environment from harmful effect.

6EDUCATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY
The public education of 21st century is highly intended towards establishing a
meritocratic society. Hence, the aim of such education is to provide equal learning
opportunities to all the individuals regardless of economic status, religious beliefs, race or
ethnic heritage, age, gender or sexual orientation, geographic or disability accessibility.
According to Zeichner et al. (2015), every jurisdiction in global society has mandate primary
education for every child regardless of their backgrounds. The educators of 21st century global
society better understand the cultural and social elements, which may hold back some children
because of their minority or cultural backgrounds. Hence, such educators can effectively create
the platform for all children to scale them and gain best skills and abilities. Apart from that,
Adams (2016) stated that contemporary educational system has also initiated diversity learning,
where the students from all backgrounds embrace the ideas of gender, economic and race
equality for promoting equal learning opportunity.
Conclusion
While concluding the study, it can be said that the philosophical means of education is to
promote the ideas of life. Sociological means of education promotes the attitude, behavior and
norms among student for establishing structured society. 21st century education has incorporated
civic education and care for environment as an important part of promoting civic responsibility
and care for environment among the students. Most of the jurisdictions of modern society have
embraced equal learning opportunities for establishing meritocratic society.

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References
Adams, M. (2016). Pedagogical foundations for social justice education. Teaching for diversity
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Biesta, G. (2015). Positive news about the future of philosophy of education. Studies in
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Chai, C. S., & Kong, S. C. (2017). Professional learning for 21st century education. Journal of
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