21st Century Skills - ED 307 Teaching Strategies for the Digital Age

 As we continue to navigate into the 21st century, we see and experience that some things are changing in our world, but others remain the same. Over 20 years ago, we would have never imagined having a cellphone that would be as powerful as a computer.  But today this is a reality that is emerging and developing more expansive and rapid each day.  

Someone once said, "that the only thing that is constant in this world is change." But that doesn't always hold true for our declining and archaic education system. Even in the most technologically advanced countries, education has not changed in the last one hundred years. We continue to teach and learn about topics that were taught to students during the industrial revolution. 

What needs to change in the education system that will bring students into the 21st century? This is a question and topic that is still in the hearts and minds of educators today. But what are 21st-century educational skills? 21st-century skills are not anything advanced, or new to this modern era of technology. 21st-century skills are fundamental applied learning skills that seek to put the student at the center of their learning. Student-centered learning adapts a model of personalized and competency-based learning. The Hun School of Princeton, New Jersey, outlines its top 10 skills of the 21st-century classroom.  Collaborative problem-solving, creativity, hands-on learning, cultural competency, effective written and oral communication, ethical decision making, information and media literacy, leadership, and critical thinking.  

I remember going to my first public speaking class, and seeing the fear in the eyes of people, including myself, that had to give a speech in front of a group of people. This was my first taste of public speaking, which led me to lead business groups and do presentations in front of hundreds of people as a consultant.  

21st-century skills should be embedded into all curricula because it is important to have excellent communication skills in the workplace. Today's workforce is fast-paced, agile, and strategic. Students need to have the emotional intelligence to handle the growing dynamics of the workforce with constant pressures that required the ability to handle emotional stress. Leadership is not just a top-down approach from the c-suite, but leadership is a role that everyone has and needs to learn before they become managers or executives.  

21st-century skills are crucial to our students because they are already know how to work on computers, type, program, and can learn almost anything on the world wide web. What students don't have is effective communication skills and hands-on learning skills. Technology has disabled the modern student and caused a "social-distancing". Just like Covid-19 is an epidemic, but isn't new to our existence, 21st century skills aren't new to our society, but require a new type of cure that will lead students into a new world of creativity, cultural sensitivity, and emotional intelligence.