21st Century Skills- What Do They Bring To The World Of Education?

There is little doubt that technology has come a long way from the humble chalk and blackboard. In modern education, new technology and learning processes are being implemented all the time in order to prime students for the modern world. However there are some who believe that global education needs a helping hand to really deliver what students need to survive in the modern jobs market. In fact,many believe that ‘21st Century skills’ are exactly what each student needs to succeed in our information based economy. If so, what are these skills and why are they needed?

Assessment and Teaching of 21^st Century Skills Project

The push behind 21^st Century skills for students is a result of the collaboration between 3 technology companies (Microsoft, Intel and Cisco) and several countries such as the US, Australia, Singapore, the Netherlands, Finland and Costa Rica. This project is not concerned with global standards of education but aims to assess 21^st Century skills and help to inform teachers across the globe ( via research and data)  what these are and how they can teach these to their students. They believe that these skills are more important than just traditional skills of literacy and numeracy.

What are 21^st Century Skills?

" ... it is ... difficult to predict what new businesses will emerge and what will become obsolete. Thus, what becomes highly valuable are unique talents, knowledge, and skills, the ability to adapt to changes, and creativity, all of which calls for a school culture that respects and cultivates expertise in a diversity of talents and skills and a curriculum that enables individuals to pursue their strengths" (Zhao, 2009, p. 156).

By developing 21^st Century skills, that students will enter the modern workforce with both hard and soft skills that enable them to thrive and succeed in a fast paced, ever changing knowledge based economy.

 Before, when jobs were mostly industry based schools taught skills such as working hard, working as a team, knowing your trade, being honest, literate, numerate etc. However, now jobs are much more information and technology based students need to think differently about issues, be more creative to solve problems, use a whole host of different media to communicate.

So what exactly are these skills? Well, 21^st Century skills can be divided into 3 types:

Learning Skills

• Critical Thinking
• Creative Thinking
• Collaborating
• Communicating

Literacy Skills

• Information Literacy
• Media Literacy
• Technology Literacy

Life Skills

• Flexibility
• Initiative
• Social Skills
• Productivity
• Leadership

By teaching these skills, it could be safe to assume that teachers would be preparing their students not just for existing careers but for careers that do not even exist yet and let’s face it, if we wish our kids to gain secure employment in the future they will need a certain level of adaptability.

The 21^st Century Classroom

The question therefore remains what kind of environment would the 21^st Century classroom provide and what technology would be used.

Certainly, classes will be smaller and the environment will be well organised with students being very aware of procedures and upcoming activities as well as what their everyday goals are and how they can achieve them. Mutual respect between teachers and pupils will be very important.

Active learning is encouraged and pupils will work in groups and on projects that will interest them. They will be encouraged to think creatively, reflect on and discuss problems and solutions on their own and as part of a group. Both talking and listening will be part of the learning process and this active learning is much more likely to help them to retain knowledge.

In addition to this, tests will not be the only way to assess pupils. Quizzes and polls using audience response systems will also be utilised to understand student achievements.

Students will be encouraged to create their own goals and may be encouraged to bring their own technology to the classroom to initiate more personalised learning. Basic classroom technology will be provided such as interactive whiteboards etc as this can be more engaging for pupils when used as part of the learning process.

Conclusion

If ATCS21 are successful in creating a public and private partnership among governments, educators, academics and industries, this could mean a global revolution within the world of education. Not only will living and social skills be taught but new ways of working and thinking will be encouraged and the tools for coping in the age of technology will be explored in depth. The far reaching effect of this could well mean less unemployment, more job security, a happier, more effective workforce and better economies in years to come. With all that in mind, let’s hope it succeeds.