Learning in 21st Century

Learning in 21st  Century

                                                                               

Learning is different from generation to generation , and we always wanted to learn and teach in such a way that we can use certain skills. 21st century skills are skills  we need to develop in 21st century learners, and the only way to develop these skills among our students is to develop these skills among us---teachers. First, we have to know what are 21st Century skills.

What are 21st Century Skills?

1. Accountability and Adaptability- being accountable for personal decisions and actions. An accountable person follows that he or she is adaptable for any situations.

2.Communication skills- Being able to understand and communicate well to other individuals.

3.Creativity and Intellectual Curiosity- creating something new and being open to other ideas and discoveries.

4.Critical Thinking and Systems Thinking- Being able to think critically in various ways and being able to think outside the box.

5.Information and Media Literacy Skills- Being able to acquire information in the use of digital literacy and analyzing the information received.           

6.Interpersonal and Collaborative Skills- being able to work with others aside from efficiently working alone. 

7. Problem Identification, Formulation, and Solution-

The ability to identify problems and find solutions.

8.Self-direction- the ability to direct oneself in every task given.

9.Social Responsibility- Acting responsibly with other people regarding tasks that needed to be done in a society.

The above mentioned 21st century skills are to help us teachers and in the latter part our students. By looking into the list, we can easily identify the skills that we already have acquired and those that are yet to be developed. When we already have developed these skills, the next thing that we have to do is to help our students develop these skills. The question is how?

How can you develop the 21st century skills among your students?

There are a lot of tips that will help us teachers in the future on how to develop the 21st Century skills on students. Below are five ways according to Oxford University Press on October 9, 2013.

1. Let Your Students Lead The Learning

Learning takes place best in environments where students feel empowered to learn. Effective teachers are more like moderators, offering inspiration and guiding students to discover for themselves. Give students the opportunity to be self-learners, which guarantees lifelong learning. This brings us directly to the second point.

2. Create an Inquiry-Based Classroom Environment

If students are to lead the way to learning, they need to be able to ask questions – and then find the means to answer them. Students (and teachers) need to “wonder out loud” as they encounter new information. A KWL chart (What do you Know? What do you Want to know? What have you Learned?) can guide students toward true self-motivated learning.

3. Encourage Collaboration

“We are greater than the sum of our parts.”  Herein is the heart of collaboration. A healthy, active classroom is a sharing classroom. Students are social beings, and even more so in a language class. Find every opportunity to allow students to form pairs and small groups. Not only does this encourage the development of speaking and listening skills, but it also teaches students how to effectively achieve goals together.

4. Develop Critical Thinking Skills

Learning is more than memorizing and remembering. Critical thinking skills take students well beyond simple comprehension of information. Students use these skills to solve problems in new situations, make inferences and generalizations, combine information in new patterns, and make judgments based on evidence and criteria. Introduce activities in your lessons that build critical thinking skills along with language skills.

5. Encourage Creativity

Encourage your students to be creative throughout each lesson. Creative activities allow students to express what they’ve learned in a new way. This synthesizing and personalizing of knowledge consolidates learning, and creates an experience that remains with students long after the class is over.

By keeping these strategies in mind as you plan each lesson, you will be encouraging the development of 21st Century skills. Of course, your students may also need time to adjust to this new way of learning. However, they will soon begin to feel empowered to think more critically, to ask questions and seek answers, and to express themselves creatively. Most importantly, their communication skills will become much stronger as a result, which always remains our main objective!

Keep an eye out for more in-depth blogs in the 21st Century skills series. In the meantime, I wish all of you the greatest of adventures in this wonderful vocation that is English education!