Are we reaching 21st century learners status? Aspirations and realities for motivating and engaging classrooms

This qualitative exploratory research investigates the aspirations and realities of motivating and engaging 21st-century learners in Philippine higher education classrooms. It examines the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization, technology, and evolving learning styles, utilizing the frameworks of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). The study explored the perspectives of 40 education teachers from Eastern Visayas, Philippines through in-depth interviews, focusing on their aspirations for student motivation and engagement, their observations of current learners, and their strategies for fostering a supportive and dynamic learning environment. The findings highlight the need to align teaching practices with psychological principles such as emotional intelligence, autonomy, relatedness, and balanced technology integration. The study concludes by emphasizing the crucial role of professional development for educators in equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to create motivating and engaging classrooms that meet the needs of 21st-century learners.