Learning Today Feels Different — More Open, More Connected, More Ongoing

Social media was well on its way to claiming a place in everyday life when it started exerting an influence on schools, colleges, and institutes across the globe. Social media was once perceived merely as a distraction, but today, students, teachers, and educational institutions are actively using it in the learning process.

Open Educational Resources, or OER, is an array of free educational tools that anyone can access, share, or adapt. They might be digital textbooks, worksheets, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, or even a full course offered online. When we consider traditional textbooks, we tend to find that they are very costly and come with strict copyright limitations; OER, on the other hand, belongs to the public domain.

A Personal Learning Network, or PLN, is a group of people, platforms, and resources you connect with to keep learning. It’s not a formal program—it’s a flexible mix of connections you build over time. These connections might include coworkers, mentors, educators, podcast hosts, or even friends who share helpful insights.

Learning isn’t limited to classrooms, textbooks, or formal courses. As humans, we constantly take in new ideas, skills, and behaviours, often without even realizing it. Understanding how we learn can help us take control of our personal and professional growth. There are two main ways we pick up knowledge: through formal learning and informal learning.

Today, education carries a very different feel. This generation of students does not grow up sitting neatly entered into an adjective. Instead, we see digital whiteboards, tablets, and learning platforms that enjoy flexibility. Most teachers use presentations, educational games, and online quizzes as tools for student engagement.