How People Learn in the 21st Century

I wrote this White Paper on How People Learn in the 21st Century for a Learning Design and Digital Pedagogy class through the University of Maryland, Global Campus. The paper includes historical learning perspectives, a complete examination of the roles of the learner, and a glimpse into my own background as it informs my instructional perspective. 

Although this paper was written in January 2021, I continue to stand by the ideas.  As you will see throughout my portfolio of work, I place a high value on engaging students, whether in an asynchronous eLearning situation or a face-to-face class.  Whether it is due to my servant leader nature or just me applying the knowledge that I have gained in my studies, I have always gravitated toward being a “guide on the side” rather than a “sage on the stage” (King, 1993).

People learn best when their individual experiences and strengths are celebrated and incorporated into the learning experience.  I learned this as an undergrad, studying Special Education, and taught this concept as a college professor.  Continuing to apply the concepts of Universal Design for Learning, which advocates for instruction that allows for multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression (About Universal Design for Learning, 2022) has carried me through both of my Master’s Degrees as I endeavor to create learning experiences that honor the individual while still achieving the instructional goals.   

References
About Universal Design for Learning. (2022). CAST. https://www.cast.org/impact/universal-design-for-learning-udl 
King, A. (1993). From sage on the stage to guide on the side. College Teaching, 41(1), 30–35. http://ezproxy.umgc.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsjsr&AN=edsjsr.27558571&site=eds-live&scope=site