21st Century Skills, Learning and Teaching

21st Century Skills, Learning and Teaching

A concept that we have been discussing in class this semester is the idea of 21st century learning. Before this class, I had never even heard of the concept of 21st century learning, which is kind of weird to me because aren’t I a product of this 21st century learning system? Well maybe not…. 

So how do we as students, having grown up in the 21st century educational system, and yet have not engaged in this new pedagogy of learning adjust to becoming teachings employing these methods of 21st century learning? 

Lets start with some basics. You might be asking your self what are some skills that a 21st century learner has?

Well some 21st century learning skills include:

- inquiry and research

- critical thinking

- problem solving

- organization

- collaboration

- communication

 (Drake, Kolohon, & Reid, 3-4).

So as students how can we effectively participate in 21st century learning?

Here’s some tips:

1) Participate in class.

- Even if you don’t understand in the material, make the effort to understand! Try and engage with your classmates in order to figure out what’s what.

2) Become self-motivated.

- Yes, we all have those classes that are boring or we only take because they fulfill a context credit. But try and find the positives of this class, or the positives of the classes that you do love. It will make the learning and comprehending portion of the class that much easier! 

3) Think about what you’re learning in a more holistic manner.

- For example, think about what you’re learning in class, and how it relates to the broader spectrum of life, your career and even broader themes in the course. Not only will it provide you with a better understanding of the course material but will also give you a better insight into how your education is applicable to real world situations.

4) Embrace technology.

- At this point we all have cell phones, computers, ipads, facebook and all of those fun and countless other forms of social media. So why not embrace the fact that you get to use your computer to find resources and youtube clips etc! Instead of complaining about research (which yes is painful) embrace the fact that we have SO much available at our fingertips than our parents would have ever done!

5) Be Cognitive of your learning habits or as we all know it “Metacognitive”.

- Understanding how you learn and being reflective of what you’ve learn can prove to be SO incredibly useful. It will not only allow you to understand how you learn, but help you in the future to learn better and embrace your learning methods

- Incorporating past knowledge and being aware of what you’ve learned and being cognitive of that in order to connect what you are presently learning will allow for a much better understanding of your subject material

- After all, it was our educational god, John Dewey, who suggested that the reflective practitioner is the one who is able to learn more effectively (Drake, Kolohon, & Reid, 147). 

Okay. So now we all kind of have this idea of how to embrace being a 21st century learner, but how exactly do we transfer this knowledge and adapt to becoming a 21st century teacher, who not only employs 21st century skills but capitalizes on 21st century learning methods for students?

As teachers we must be able to foster an environment that promotes not only intrinsic motivation, meaning that our students want to learn without reward, but also promote passion based learning. Once our students become passionate about learning, making it personal, then students will be able to fully capitalize on their own learning. Through employing 21st century skills we as teachers will be able to foster this positive learning environment. By being engaging as teachers and providing a variety of methods of learning, such as learning through technology via Skype sessions with professionals and other worldly connections students will become interested in the material. Being passionate as teachers about the subjects we are teaching will also help to further engage our students as well. Lastly, capitalize on group work and collaboration! Get your class to look at the bigger picture. Working through nonprofit organizations and social justice will allow for a more meaningful educational process for your students. 

SO, to you, future teachers of the 21st century skills, I pose this thought.

Be the one to engage, to challenge your notions of learning and to be the progress motivators and explorers of new ways and methods of learning. With technology and the world at our finger tips, find the best way that you as a teacher can capitalize on these amazing inventions. Your students will learn from you but be able to teach you as well. Keep and open mind and embrace modernity. Because in the great words of Emma Watson, if not now, when? and if not me, then who?

Also, if you want some more information on how to embrace 21st century learning check out this awesome video!

Drake, S. M., Kolohon, M., & Reid, J. L. (2014). Interweaving Curriculum and Classroom Assessment: Engaging the 21st-Century Learner. Don Mills, Canada: Oxford University Press.