ED638 BLOG: NORMAN: 21st CENTURY LEARNING: THE WAY OF THE ANT

To be a successful 21st Century Learner, one has just to mimic the ant!

Ants, aside from being hardworking, are also known as great adaptive creatures and as quick anticipator. We would instantly know that rainy season is just about to come as we see those long ant lines. We see them frantically storing their food in preparation for the wet season.

In the podcast interview with Steve Hargadon, Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach talked about the 21st Century Learner. She shared valuable insights about preparing students to be successful in today's demanding society. Among those that she said, I was impressed in the words ADAPTIVE EXPERT. These words remind me of the ANTS.

I believe that today's students have to follow the way ants work. These creatures work hard to store up food in anticipation for the harsh season. Students need to study and to learn as many technology skills as possible for their future is harsh and demanding. To guarantee a stable work and a good salary, they have to be ready and to be the best. This technology skill is not about just the SOFTWARE and HARDWARE knowledge. These can change anytime. It is about the resilient attitude of knowing how to learn. Ants know how to find any kind of food from any kind of place. Students must have that template of the learning process made according to their capabilities and talents. Ants find food using what they have - their chemical scent and their sense of smell.

Therefore, Adaptive Expert is one who knows how to learn. It is one who learns for survival and for success. It is one who responds to the demands of the times. It is about giving oneself an indispensable value. It is not being passive, but always actively reinventing oneself. It is about always being ready.

It is the way of the ant!

CREDITS
Image Source:
ANTS -http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2003/may7/gifs/Ant_Chat2_300.jpg

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