EDU10006 Case Study: Comparing Traditional and 21st Century Learning

This case study analyzes the shift from traditional to 21st-century teaching and learning methods, focusing on the integration of technology, the role of internal and external partnerships, and the changing curriculum. The student discusses essential technologies like computers, tablets, smart boards, and social media, justifying their inclusion based on their ability to enhance learning. The analysis explores the evolving roles of students, teachers, parents, and stakeholders in education, highlighting the importance of collaboration and the impact of technology on teaching practices. The study contrasts teacher-centered traditional methods with the interactive, student-centered approaches of the 21st century, emphasizing the use of practical applications and the shift towards science-focused education to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy. The student also references the assignment brief and the feedback received for the assignment.

Running Head: TRADITIONAL AND 21ST CENTURY LEARNING 1
Student Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Name
Date

TRADITIONAL AND 21st CENTURY LEARNING 2
Discuss what new technologies you feel are essential inclusions for your year level, as a part
of the redevelopment project. Justify your selection, based on how they will support
effective 21st century teaching and learning practices
Basically, education is aimed at preparing learners to solve the growing needs of the
economy ("Teaching As an ‘Act of Love’ by Applying Non-traditional Teaching-Learning
Methods in Virtual Environments", 2018). More so, the students should become productive
personnel to both the community and the world at large. Since the world keeps changing day in
day, it’s also necessary to keep the education system up to date to be able to solve these
emerging needs.
The 21st century methods of learning and teaching are very different as compared to the
old methods. It’s also evident that our habits have changed from how we socialize, how we
communicate, and more importantly how we intellectualize issues. Although some people don’t
support the use of technology in teaching, I strongly feel that it should be the way to go to
achieve innovation and creativity ("Using Technology to Enhance Teaching & Learning - SMU",
2019). Some of the common technologies to use in the 21st century are: computers, social media,
tablets, and smart boards.
Computers
A school can adopt the use of this technology for both the learners and the teachers to
make education more effective. In today’s world, the use of computers have helped so much in
research and technology ("Teaching Electronic Health Record Communication", 2016). This has
been made so, by using the internet to search and get additional materials that are freely available
through the internet. On the other hand, teachers can use the computers to plan for their lessons

TRADITIONAL AND 21st CENTURY LEARNING 3
or get extra notes in the internet. I therefore, feel that computers will be of great use in 21st
century teaching.
Tablets
This is a simpler computer that has a touch screen and is handheld. It has the ability to
store applications that can help supplement learning. In tertiary education, some schools even
conduct online learning where students are given tablets that have all the notes, assignments and
a platform to submit assignments. It’s mostly used by working people with limited time to attend
classes.
Smart boards
These are improved and more advanced blackboards which were used traditionally. They
are interactive, making the learning session enjoyable and fun (Hassankiadeh, 2013). Traditional
blackboards were very dull and students used to struggle to follow lessons and even slept in
classes. Smart board have the ability to connect with other devices and makes it possible to share
notes. In addition, they are cost effective as compared to the traditional ones. When used well
they last longer, since they don’t use chalk and other writing materials.
The use of social media
Currently, social media has been acknowledged as another way of teaching technologically
in the 21st century. Students or teachers can form groups that help each other in learning. This
also helps the teachers to communicate with their learners more effectively ("Using Media to
Enhance Teaching and Learning", 2019). Through interacting, teachers are able to understand
their students better and address the issues that they face. Although, it’s a good method of

TRADITIONAL AND 21st CENTURY LEARNING 4
learning teachers and parents should be able to control the students so as not to misuse these
methods of learning.
Name the external and internal players in education and justify your answer.
Students’ partnerships
Learners should be encouraged and supported to work together both internally and
externally. External partnering is when students work with others from other schools while,
internal collaboration is with schoolmates. This can be done by borrowing learning materials
from others or exchanging notes. Research has it that students learn well from others unlike from
teachers. Parents and teachers have the duty of ensuring that the students are learning the
information or materials from others. This eliminates students from getting involved in criminal
activities.
Staff
These are both teaching and non-teaching staff that help the learning process to take
place. All staff in the learning institutions should be enrolled in career advancement and growth
to help them offer quality education (Felten, 2017). Additionally, they should work together with
others in other institution so as to learn from each other. This could be done through social media
groups or unions. After acquiring all the necessary skills they should work closely with the
students to ensure information is delivered, and that the quality of education is improved. On the
other hand, teachers and non-teaching staff should follow the government rules and regulations
in teaching the approved materials. Generally, the government has a basic role to ensure learning
goes on smoothly by providing infrastructures and the necessary resources required in schools.
Teachers and all the stakeholders should be paid well and on time to encourage them do their

TRADITIONAL AND 21st CENTURY LEARNING 5
responsibilities diligently. Although learning is an important aspects in life, the school should
provide recreational facilities to enable learners who are talented differently excel in co-
curricular activities.
Families
These include parents and the communities surrounding the school. They have an
obligation to ensure that learning takes place efficiently (Pigza, 2016). The parents have the basic
duty of paying fees and providing the learning materials to the students as requested by the
school. In addition, parents are obliged to guide their children in the right direction and ensuring
they instill discipline in them.
Stakeholders
These are people that the government and the school administration have given powers to
monitor and evaluate the education system. Having been given the powers they should collect
crucial information relating to education and advice the government on the actions that it can
take. Thus, the work of making sure that schools meet the required standards is upon them.
Using examples explain how teaching and learning has changed in the 21st century.
Education is an important aspect and the economy requires skilled people to cater for the
growing needs. The government and the community rely heavily on education to produce skilled
labor to innovate new ways of doing things and run the economy. Therefore, teachers and all the
stakeholders in the education sector have a responsibility to ensure that, the right education
standards are put in place to cater for the growing needs of economy. More so, teachers and
parents should play their part in ensuring that students are taught.

TRADITIONAL AND 21st CENTURY LEARNING 6
Teaching and learning has been improving day in day out as more creativities and
innovations are coming up. Teaching in the 21st century has greatly advanced as compared to the
traditional methods. One of the major contributions to these changes is technological advances,
which has called for more advanced methods in teaching. Traditionally learning was teacher
centered while, in the 21st century learning is an interactive session between the teacher and the
students. Giving the students a chance to pour out their ideas and feelings, encourages innovation
and creativity. On the other hand, the traditional method was a boring experience and led to
many students dropping out of schools terming it as unfriendly.
In the 21st century the use of technology has taken the front line and students can even
use social media groups to interact with their teachers and colleagues (Huss, 2019). A teacher, is
thus, able to understand his/her student while engaging directly on a chat. In the traditional
methods of learning teachers were feared and respected people, and children feared even meeting
with their teachers.
Traditional education was academics centered while, today’s education has co-curricular
activities to explore the talents of a student. This shows that the current system recognizes sports
and other games or activities as good career paths that are important in life. This is evidenced by
the heavy salaries and rewards that footballers and marathoner’s earn. This calls for learning
institutions, to provide for the necessary trainings and availing these learning materials to help
them identify students’ talents. More so, parents and teachers should support the talents since,
not everyone is good in academics.
Initially, education was theoretical with most of the things taught by word of mouth.
Currently, this has changed with the learning process having practicals and interactions to enable
learners fully understand the subjects taught. Small children are shown how to make toys to help

TRADITIONAL AND 21st CENTURY LEARNING 7
them play. This encourages innovation and creativity which, learners’ can use later to invent cars
or airplanes that they used to make at childhood.
Basically, the traditional education focused a lot in art subjects since, the economy had
shortage in art related professionals. In the 21st century, the focus has shifted to science subjects.
This is so because, innovation and creativity has been seen to be the best way to solve many
problems in the economy. Some of the problems include: lack of employment, limited resources,
and high costs in production of goods and services. With innovation these problems have been
solved at a significant level. For example, the innovation of electricity reduced the production
process and created jobs for many people (Spilsbury & Spilsbury, n.d.).

TRADITIONAL AND 21st CENTURY LEARNING 8
References
Felten, P. (2017). Emotion and Partnerships. International Journal For Students As
Partners, 1(2). doi: 10.15173/ijsap.v1i2.3070
Hassankiadeh, M. (2013). Smart Boards in Language Classes. International Journal Of
Language And Linguistics, 1(4), 48. doi: 10.11648/j.ijll.s.20130101.18
Huss, R. (2019). Preparing Teachers for the 21st Century Classroom. Internet Learning, 7(1).
doi: 10.18278/il.7.1.3
Pigza, J. (2016). Community Partnerships: POWERful Possibilities for Students and
Communities. New Directions For Student Leadership, 2016(150), 49-59. doi:
10.1002/yd.20170
Spilsbury, R., & Spilsbury, L. Electricity.
Teaching As an “Act of Love” by Applying Non-traditional Teaching-Learning Methods in
Virtual Environments. (2018). Revista Electrónica Educare, 22(3). doi: 10.15359/ree.22-
3.18
Teaching Electronic Health Record Communication. (2016). CIN: Computers, Informatics,
Nursing, 34(6), 281. doi: 10.1097/01.ncn.0000484807.76555.fd
Using Media to Enhance Teaching and Learning. (2019). Retrieved 27 September 2019, from
https://serc.carleton.edu/sp/library/media/index.html
Using Technology to Enhance Teaching & Learning - SMU. (2019). Retrieved 27 September
2019, from https://www.smu.edu/Provost/CTE/Resources/Technology