What exactly are 21st century skills? And 7 effective ways they can develop them.
There is a story about a time traveler who arrives in 2024 from the 1800s. He enters a supermarket and is amazed to learn that this is how people procure their food. Next, he strolls along the sidewalk and is shocked to see everyone holding a small device in their hands and staring straight at it. He passes by an airport and is dumbfounded at large metal things taking off and landing with ease. Finally, he steps into a school and feels a sense of comfort and familiarity because school has not changed in almost 200 years.
Schools are grappling with a changing set of skills required of the 21st century worker. The three Rs: reading, writing, and arithmetic are outdated. They have been replaced with a set of skills that better reflect what students ought to be mastering to be successful participants in the 21st century global economy.
21st century skills
The National Education Association breaks 21st century skills into three categories:
1. Learning
Critical Thinking: The Foundation for Critical Thinking defines it as “the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.” In other words, the higher order thinking skills that Bloom has defined.
Creative Thinking: Career Services at the University of Pennsylvania defines it as “all about developing innovative solutions to problems. Creative thinkers brainstorm not only a large number of ideas but also a variety and range of them.” Even in math and science classes, creativity is a necessity to go beyond a basic understanding of concepts and creating new applications for these skills.
Collaboration: This is simply two or more people working together to achieve a defined goal. Students need opportunities to practice working in groups and developing the social skills to navigate interpersonal dynamics.
2. Literacy
Information literacy: According to the American Library Association, “Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” Google has become the new librarian, but this skill goes beyond just a simple Google search. Can a student get the right material in a timely fashion? Can they read it and truly comprehend it?
Media literacy: The ability to critically analyze stories presented in the mass media and to determine their accuracy or credibility. Think of the current climate with political polarization, rise of AI, and the erosion of trust of mainstream media. It is imperative a student develops a sense of when something doesn’t seem right. Can they confirm it with another reliable source?
Technology literacy: SimpliLearn defines it as the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to effectively and responsibly use technology tools, devices, and resources. According toTime Magazine the Educational Testing Service unveiled a new, computer-based exam designed to measure information-and-communication-technology literacy. A pilot study of the test with 6,200 high school seniors and college freshmen found that only half could correctly judge the objectivity of a website.
3. Life skills
Flexibility: The University of Manchester defines it as the ability to change plans, priorities and ideas to suit changing circumstances. This is one of the Executive Functioning skills that so many students struggle with. Being able to “roll with the punches” is a critical skill for students to develop.
Initiative: The ability to work and complete a task without always being told what to do. Someone can think for themselves and take action when necessary. Many students wrestle with this skill, and they need opportunities to put this into practice.
Leadership: Combines many of the life skills; good leaders take initiative, have strong social skills, and are productive. When learning cooperatively in a small group, this provides chances for students to develop this important skill.
The new four C’s
As one can see the original 3 R’s are antiques. According to the University of Massachusetts Global, the New Four C’s are: critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity. In a global economy workers must think abstractly, work cooperatively in teams, distinguish good information from bad (or fake), and even speak another language.
20th Century schooling had compartmentalized instruction, that was teacher-centered, with memorization of facts emphasized. 21st Century schooling is student-focused with intertwined disciplines, collaboration and is project-based. And perhaps even more evidence for students to master these 21st century skills is a Department of Labor statistic that indicates that 65% of school-age children today will grow up to have jobs that do not yet exist!
Developing 21st century skills
1. Use your child’s interests. If they are fascinated with flight, encourage them to learn more. Perhaps visit a museum that focuses on flight. Locate websites and or books that share information about the topic. Let them lead the investigation; your job is to support them.
2. Encourage cooperative activities. Kids can learn cooperation in a variety of ways. Playing on a sports team or playing an instrument in the school band or joining Scouts are all great ways to foster cooperation skills. When difficulties arise – the coach doesn’t play your kid, the band director does not want four tuba players, etc. – help them navigate these seemingly difficult circumstances, but do not fight their battles for them.
3. Encourage out-of-the-box-thinking. Challenge your child to come up with a new rule for a familiar game. Maybe they add a twist to Uno or Monopoly. Change the rules during the game to practice flexible thinking. This keeps everyone on their toes!
4. Have your child teach you. There is no shortage of opportunities for children to explain things to their parents. Whether it is how to play Roblox or Minecraft or why a certain YouTuber has 25 million subscribers, ask your child to teach you about these different topics.
5. Participate in challenges. There are many appropriate challenges that can be found online. No, not the Tide pod challenge! More like the egg drop challenge or Balloon Rocket challenge- these fun hands-on activities require your child to think creatively and develop persistence to successfully complete the activity.
6. Focus on transfer of knowledge. How many times has your child come home and complained, “When am I ever going to use this?!” Help your child make those connections. If they are in high school and are studying triangles and the Pythagorean theorem, help them see its use in architecture and engineering design. Explain to them how you use “academic” skills such as reading in your job.
7. Discuss artificial intelligence. There are many AI programs that students may be using right now. Hello, ChatGPT. These programs should not be forbidden; your child needs to learn how to use the tools responsibly and correctly, with your guidance.
Final thoughts
The concept of school is changing. If the pandemic taught us anything, it was that school does not necessarily have to be in a physical building from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students have options such as virtual school, home school, or even hybrid programs and are free to select the best option for their learning needs. But not only is the school setting changing, so is the curriculum. The 3 R’s of reading, writing, and arithmetic are outdated. In their place are 21st century skills, which include critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration, communication, and creativity. As a parent you can help your child practice these skills. Model them! Remember, your child is probably preparing for a job that does not exist yet.
If your child struggles with school or needs more opportunities to learn these critical 21st century skills, contact Jennifer Disch at Engage the Brain to discover how a Learning Specialist can help.