The Digital Era of Learning: Novel Educational Strategies and Challenges for Teaching Students in the 21st Century

Students of the 21st century, typically those of the Millennial (also referred to as 'Gen Y') or Gen Z generations, were born into a digitally advanced world. Unlike in the 1960's when the smallest computers occupied entire rooms at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) complex, today's digital landscape is smitten with the abundant use of modern laptops, tablets and smart phones. Modern computing technology has evolved due to the marriage with extremely powerful computing software, which collectively has resulted in the commonplace use of modern technology on a regular basis throughout all aspects of everyday life. This relatively unrestricted access to computers is coupled with an unfettered access to the internet, providing users' unlimited freedoms to search for boundless amounts of information. This constant stream of electronically-accessible information, the digital highway', has subsequently led to the creation of novel strategies to teach today's students. Today's students, or more aptly referred to as modern learners', are quite unique compared with previous students of the Baby Boomer or Gen X generations. Students of the Gen X generation were the first students to experience wide-spread access to computers during high school and undergraduate studies, whereas the majority of students from both the Gen Y and Gen Z generations have been literally bombarded with computer technology since birth. This access has created an on-demand' lifestyle that relies on searchable databases, instant access to live-streaming events and the ability to communicate electronically (in various formats) from almost anywhere on the face of the planet. This on-demand lifestyle has permeated every facet of everyday life to the degree that many of these technologies are now incorporated routinely into all forms of business and science, and used throughout all levels (elementary, secondary and professional) of education.