Get with the Program (literally): A TikTok Vlog on 21st Century Learning

video credit: Surla, K. (2020). What does 21st century learning look like [video]. TikTok

The aspects of 21st century learning are intentionally broad to prepare students for contemporary needs and challenges. An undisputed contributor to 21st century learning is the increased role of technology. Davidson and Goldberg proposed that “connectivity is a learning institution, not just a technology or tool that exists– it’s a standalone entity” (2009). Over the past 3 years, I have expanded my use of social media as an educational tool. Features such as “save” and “bookmark” functions enable me to create personal archives ranging from learner experience design to home composting. As Davidson and Goldberg (2009) stated, connectivity, or intentional interactions with others via technology, has become its own educational institution.

As I was experimenting with platforms to host my presentation on 21st century learning, I did an unexpected pivot. Although I was inclined to use a combo of Zoom and Camtasia, I instead chose TikTok. Although TikTok is seemingly less “professional” I realized how the app is commonly used to educate others in a relatable and comedic way. A benefit of TikTok is its intimacy and simplicity. it felt as if I was talking directly with another person. I was pleasantly surprised that TikTok elicited this response. Who said that education needed to be highly curated and void of humor anyway?

This project sparked an observation of my current role working for iteach.msu.edu where I find myself between two worlds: Informational Technology and Teaching. Although the two teams have a shared goal to develop a teaching resource, each group brings different educational training. This disconnect can cause misalignment in the vision for the platform. In our current workforce where content experts (i.e. teachers) work closely with technological experts (i.e. developers), what skills can we draw from 21st century learning to streamline communication between an interdisciplinary team?

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References

Davidson, C.& Goldberg, D.T. (2009). The future of learning institutions in a digital age. MIT Press: Cambridge, Mass.

Kingsley, T. L., & Grabner-Hagen, M. M. (2015). Gamification: Questing to integrate content knowledge, literacy, and 21st-century learning. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 59(1), 51–61. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaal.426

Stillar, B. (2012). 21st century learning: How college classroom interaction will change in the decades ahead. International Journal of Technology, Knowledge and Society, 8(1), 143–151. https://doi.org/10.18848/1832-3669/cgp/v08i01/56266

Surla, K. (2020). What does 21st century learning look like [video]. TikTok

Tarbutton, T. (2018). Leveraging 21st century learning & technology to create caring diverse classroom cultures. Multicultural Education, 25(2), 4–6.