Abstract:

The 21st century arrived with new challenges and opportunities. Schools are gradually changing too, and this is particularly so because the students are different now. Their interests, needs and most of all, the ways that they find and process information and the techniques they use are completely different. Today’s students are individuals and personalities. In the 21st century a child wants to be different and considers technology to be a part of their self-expression, willingly trying and using everything new: computers, mobile gadgetry, social networks etc. It can clearly be seen that technology can assist teachers in undertaking this impossible mission – in providing an individualized approach to each student, independently of their sphere of interest, level of knowledge and ability in the specific subject being taught. The world is changing so swiftly that we can’t imagine with any accuracy, what the labour market will be like that will greet the current first year students when they finish their 12th year. However, one thing is clear – technology has arrived and will remain in our lives. The quality of education and the preparedness of a student for a successful life and work in the modern world are to a large extent dependent on how well a teacher is able to change with the times and skilfully use these tools in the dialogue with students. The importance of further education is increasing each year because people need to continually master new technology and have to adapt to a changing labour market. Learning has become the key word in today’s era. The goals of education – both strategic, as well as tactical, are in essence developed by the teacher. That’s why particular attention is being focussed on the education of teachers and the development of their professional skills. Creative and even outstanding people are needed for a nation to be competitive on world markets and for its economy to be competitive. For education to be effective, creative and thinking educators are needed - teachers, who can be drawn into the education process – into professional development, implemented through further education courses. Further education needs to assist teachers in becoming integrated in the European and world education systems, which require rapid responses, adaptation to new needs and completely new situations in real school/university practice. Demands are placed on the teacher of today to organize learning in a way that in the acquirement of knowledge, the subject of study becomes a means of developing the student’s thinking, the cultivation of the sphere of the senses, as well as the improvement of social skills. Every teacher should be aware of their capabilities. They should review their teaching resources, evaluate the most useful teaching methods and techniques for the learning of the subject they teach, and to organize the most democratic, humane and efficient learning environment. This environment is one where the teacher and the student, as well as the students between themselves, actively cooperate in the acquisition of new knowledge and skills in a process which is based on technology.

Keywords:

Inter-generational learning, learning from experience, life-long education, high quality education process, professional competence of the teacher, self-direct.