The Focusing on 21st Century Skills

 

The Focusing on 21st Century Skills

by Amornteb Intasorn

In the face of such rapid change, educators and activists are promoting 21^st century skills to prepare students for an unknown future and jobs that have yet to be created. 21^st century skills are a range of competencies, taught across all levels of education that give students the skills they need to navigate an ever-shifting workforce.

According to (Bernie Trilling and Charles Fadel, 2011) authors of 21^st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times, 21^st century skills reflect the idea that “the world has changed so fundamentally in the last few decades that the roles of learning and education in day-to-day living have also changed forever.”

(The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2015) notes that 21^st century skills transform students into “versalitists,” that are students who can “apply depth of skill to a progressively widening scope of situations and experiences, gaining new competencies, building relationships and assuming new roles.”

Since the late 1980s, teachers and school leaders have sought to address the need for 21^st century skills with maker spaces, flipped learning classrooms, genius hour, gamification and even elements of common core math. Here are the category of 21^st century skills:

Category 1. Learning Skills (The Four C’s)

The 4 C's of 21st Century Skills are:

·       Critical thinking: Finding solutions to problems

·       Creativity: Thinking outside the box

·       Collaboration: Working with others

·       Communication: Talking to others

Category 2. Literacy Skills (IMT)

    The three 21st Century literacy skills are:

·       Information literacy: Understanding facts, figures, statistics, and

      data

·       Media literacy: Understanding the methods and outlets in which     

                            information is published

·       Technology literacy: Understanding the machines that make the

                                     Information Age possible

Category 3. Life Skills (FLIPS)

      The five 21st Century life skills are:

·       Flexibility: Deviating from plans as needed

·       Leadership: Motivating a team to accomplish a goal

·       Initiative: Starting projects, strategies, and plans on one’s own

·       Productivity: Maintaining efficiency in an age of distractions

·       Social skills: Meeting and networking with others for mutual  

                          benefit.

In conclusion, cultivating 21st century skills is no longer a mere suggestion, but an essential investment in our future. As the world continues its rapid technological advancement and globalization, these skills equip individuals with the learning skills, literacy skills, and life skills abilities necessary to not only survive but flourish in the face of unforeseen challenges. By fostering a growth mindset and prioritizing the development of these skills, we empower ourselves and future generations to become active participants and leaders in shaping a more innovative and connected world.

 

Reference

Trilling, B., & Fadel, C. (2011). 21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times. John Wiley & Sons.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2015). Future of Education and Skills 2030.