The 21st Century Learning Classroom

What is this thing called 21st Century Learning? What skills does it include? How is it different from our current model of education?

When people talk about 21st century learning and how it will bring along new abilities and skills that are required to achieve successfulness in this century, my initial response is: aren’t we already living in the 21st century which means that the way we are currently being taught is from the 21st century? Well unfortunately, that is not the case. The standards for the 21st century learning were developed with the input of teachers, education experts, and business leaders to define and illustrate certain abilities that students will need down the road into adulthood. These skills include the four assets of learning and innovation skills which are critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity (otherwise known as the 4 C’s). These are large aspects that were unfortunately underestimated in the previous century and can assist students and business workers in creating new jobs. In addition, creativity and critical thinking in particular, is what the majority of schools lack the most and continue to make efforts in improving. But many modifications to the education system have to be made, such as removing or reevaluating tests, grades, textbooks and particular worksheets which realistically, cannot be done. Moving along to communication and collaboration skills, I’m pretty confident that this is something we have used for a very, very long period and hasn’t been exceptionally different throughout time. In next comes along the key subject and 21st century themes which are reading, writing and arithmetic. Nevertheless, these are skills that have been carried throughout the 19th along with the 21st century which does not seem unique in this case. Other abilities that are going to be primarily focused throughout this century are information, technology and media skills. Not only are these abilities developed and improved greatly during the 21st century, but also continuously growing within schools.

What it is and what skills they deem most important for the future?

I strongly believe that this plan for our 21st century learning is not exactly thought through realistically, since it contains many flaws and new problems. Take communication and collaboration skills for example. They are seeming to have the exact opposite outcomes due to technology. I assume many people can agree that students would search up an answer to a question rather than forming their own judgment. Furthermore, tons of kids would agree that computers along with other gadgets are a much better distraction than talking to other classmates and making new friends. In addition, if teachers do decide to engage students in critical thinking about everything, then this leads back to creativity and it’s threatening aspects towards school bureaucratic structures as I mentioned previously. However the biggest problem is that there is no balance. Most school districts are primarily focusing on technology skills and not thinking of whether or not there should be limits. Imagine being glued to a screen, isolating yourself in your own little world, ignoring your assignments and your peers around you. I’m quite certain that technology alone is the largest reason why this new protocol will definitely not work. Perhaps 21st century skills should involve the process of staying human, despite the fact that other forces surrounding us seek to dehumanize ourselves. We’re so caught up in creating something new even if the original idea was great itself. Maybe going back 20th century teaching from time to time isn’t so awful after all.

Source:

http://institute4learning.com/blog/2011/04/22/21st-century-learning-what-is-it-really/