Abstract
Being an educator in the 21st century can be both exciting and daunting. Educators are learning a great deal about how young people behave and learn in a media saturated world where students operate on ‘twitch’ speed and are fractionally educated. There is also evidence to suggest that those born into the age of technology may be having their brains shaped very differently from previous generations. This paper examines these considerations in the context of adolescent development and ‘middle schooling’. A look at emotional development, motivation and the impact of technology is presented with a view that educators may have to radically rethink how to engage with 21st century adolescent minds if they are truly sincere in meeting the myriad of needs teenagers possess as they move through educational systems.