Hunter Gross

English 111
Oct-28-2014
Learning in the Twenty First Century
Over the course of the human race, learning and education have taken many different
forms and paths. However, in the twenty first century individuals now have multiple sources of
information and educational opportunities, be it through the use of technology, such as the use
of the internet which certainly provides a wealth of knowledge that is simply waiting for one to
dive into the vast waters of the World Wide Web. In addition, traditional studies at universities
or other institutions have been a very popular source of tutelage in ones desired field of
expertise. With regard to scholarly institution, colleges are not the sole means of higher
education; indeed technical institutes are certainly credible. Essentially twenty first century
components have changed both the individual as well as the populace in terms of education in
skill attainment.
In the modern era, the value of a college education has been a growing ideal that has
been placed in the minds of most of the worlds populace. As we are all very well aware of the
growing pressures from peers and media to attend a scholarly institution, college has extremely
lucrative benefits. Indeed the benefits of college, statistically speaking, provide a higher yearly
income than those who do not have a college degree of some kind, as Jay Mathews, online
columnist for the Washington Post, would likely agree. In fact, in Mathews article Multiplying
the Benefits of College for everyone he states College graduates earn considerably more

money and they have more choices in what they do with their lives and much more flexibility
if they change their minds. (355) Of course colleges at all levels, whether it be a community
college or a university, opens doors for an individual, however Mathews has failed to consider
that there are more ways to broaden ones horizons. Work experience can offer valuable
firsthand knowledge such as interning at a dentist office, which could lead to, over time,
becoming a secretary, or, a constructions worker may be able to switch professions to a
carpenter due to his experience in the building trades. With regard to Jay Mathews statement,
College is an excellent means of education; however college is not the only source learning.
On the opposite end of the spectrum college is not a one size fits all solution, as Thomas
Reeves, an English Professor at Brooklyn College, would agree. Thomas Reeves so eloquently
raised the point about sending young adults to college in droves, Are we by definition doing
them a favor by sending them to college? They may make more money during their lifetimes.
But at what cost. Shortages in skilled labor abound. (347), Essentially Reeves is portraying that
young adults may not be fitted for a college environment, and despite what the young adults
may want, society pushes them over the seemingly abysmal edge into the depths of college.
However Institutions such as the accredited University Technical Institute (UTI), or Lincoln
Technical College, provide vocational training for those individuals who do not wish to attend a
conventional college but still desire to attain specialty skills. Essentially vocational education
portrays the beauty twenty first century learning provides; there are scores of avenues and
pathways to a higher form of education. On the job training, vocational training, internships,
and apprenticeships, all of the aforementioned options are alternatives to college that remain
in the system of education. That being, said college remains a popular and widely established

form of furthering ones knowledge and is deserving of the esteem colleges are granted by
society. Technological advantages such as the internet have been one of the human races great
innovations. The use of the internet is undoubtedly a great tool to be utilized. The great
plethora of information that the internet holds within, is at the fingertips of the user. In the
world we live in today it is simple to find the cookie recipe you couldnt find in the cook book or
discover when the pyramids of Egypt were constructed. Nicholas Carr, author of Is Google
Making Us Stupid? among others, debates the opposite, that the internet changes the user for
the worse. Carr believes that the use of the internet breeds different habits in the analyzing of
information such as skimming, which Carr argues is effectively deteriorating Our ability to
interpret text, to make the rich connections that form when we read deeply(372). Certainly
Carr addresses a valid concern, the technology we have come to cherish so much is taking away
something we have come to take for granted namely our ability to focus long term. However
Carr fails to address the fact that the world we live in today functions at a very hurried pace
thus the horrid skimming activity that, (according to Carr) the internet has pioneered is a
necessary tool. As Larry Press, student at California State University, states, We become adept
at using useful tools, and hence perfect new skills.(Pew Research Center, 381). Indeed, to
remain a productive member of society, one must adapt and acquire skills such as skimming
that can lead to faster cognitive actions. However the internet is not without its faults.
With such technology and power to search anything, essentially on a whim at any
moment provides an opportunity for distraction. Thus, opportunitys for distractions are
everywhere in cyber space. The temptation to visit a site such as YouTube or, perhaps, another
scandalous website is ever so tempting. Therefor the use of the internet be it for wise purposes

and the improvement of ones self or, for drives that are completely unrelated to the task at
hand or for degrading self-indulgences, remains entirely in the hands of the user as Sandra Kelly
of the Pew Research Center would likely find herself in agreement. Indeed Sandra Kelly remains
unmoved by both ends of the spectrum in her statement I guess smart people will use the
internet for smart things and stupid people will use it for stupid things. (382), as for what is
intelligent or stupid remains anyones guess, Kelly statement makes an absolute unbiased
point. The internet, like any learning tool is only as effective and efficient as the person using it.
The invention of technology such as the internet and media stations have, through the
decades of use by multiple societies, has changed the way peoples obtain information, both in
an academic setting as well as the everyday life of an individual. Indeed the individual is subject
to multiple avenues of informative subject material that opens a plethora of information to the
user. However that is not to say that the information will be accurate, that being a point that
Gene Spafford, member of the Association for Computing Machinery U.S. Public Policy Council,
fears. Spafford raises an intriguing point in her response to the Pew Research Center, The
[internet] is full of inaccurate, misleading and biased information that often crowds out the
valid information. (383) Of course with so many avenues for information to seep into our
minds, the possibility for bias emotion laden and even flat out lies of reports of accounts can
find their way into the cognizance of a civilization.
However as technology may seem to lead us astray there are ways to check if the
information we are receiving is in fact credible by checking the source of the information and
furthering the analysis of the information by perusing other sources to see if there is a
correlation in ones findings. Indeed the internet has been a breeding ground for certain

individuals to create false statements or links to webpages that have no credibility what so
ever, this is a danger that is ever present. However with such dangers comes adaptability such
as cross referencing. To put this in context, a soldier trains in boot camp with live fire instead of
blank or non-lethal rounds for authenticity to better prepare him or her for battle. An internet
user searches with the dangers of false information thus forcing one to adapt to a different
method of searching for information by checking sources. Joshua Fouts, (Senior Fellow for
Digital Media) in his response to the Pew Research Center, states *the internet+ never breeds
passivity or stupidity in me: It catalyzes me to explore further. (386) essentially what Fouts is
stating is that, yes the internet has skewed statements and volatile opinions; however those
pitfalls will force one to adapt and search further for credible sources. Furthermore Fouts
indirectly states that the internet as a learning component teaches one new skills to better
locate correct and credible sources.
Information hubs, such as Google provide an unparalleled amount of information, and
thus, create a much more informed society. Community colleges as well as Universities are
excellent sources of furthering ones education in there desired majors. In addition vocational
institutions remain a viable form of education without partaking in the conventional college
setting. Information and learning in the way we as a society interact with education has
multiple avenues for interpretation with regard to where and how one obtains information has
multiple avenues. Overall, twenty first century components have changed both the individual as
well as the populace in terms of education in skill attainment.

Works Cited
Carr, Nicholas. Is Google Making Us Stupid? Atlantic Monthly, 2009, 372-77.Print.
Mathews, Jay. "Chapter. 8." Multiplying Benefits of College for Everybody. N.p.:
Washington, 2007. 354-55. Print
Thomas. "Chap.8." College Isnt for Everybody. 347. Print
Fouts, Press, Larry, Sandra Kelly, and Gene Spafford. "Is Technology Making Us Stupid?"
Does Google Make Us Supid,. By The Pew Research Center. 38186. Print.