WHY EVERY STUDENT NEEDS 21st CENTURY SKILLS

Mechelle M. Halili

In our age and time of technological advancements and innovations, teachers must reflect on what really counts as important skills for students to develop in the 21 century. Teachers need to have the right frame of mind that we must prepare students for a world that does not yet exist. What skills and understandings are needed by our students in a time that is changing at the speed of thought?

Our students right now are one of the most advanced thinkers of all time! They think in very complex, and tech-savvy ways. They are easily bored by traditional chalk-talk methods of teaching, and thus want to be inspired and motivated to work with the newest tools of learning.

So, how do we compete for the attention of our students whose minds have already been captured by Mobile Legends or the magnetic attraction of YouTube videos or the constant temptation of status updates on Facebook?

It is clear that we have to be reflective on the efficacy of our current teaching methodologies because students need to be challenged to function in the 21st century. These activities would need to involve students in the contribution of their own ideas, process these ideas, learn, re-learn, or even unlearn them. Teachers should not just present facts to students. They need to be able to use facts to answer thought-provoking questions of “what ifs” and “how does this relate to…” and “would it be better if this…instead of this…” kinds of questions. They should not only be shown bits of information, but use this information in their own language, use symbols and text, and be able to create new ideas based on these information and text. They should be able to manage their own personal experiences and bring them into the lesson, mix it with experiences of other team members—either complement them or even contradict them, and later come up with a consensus on a final synthesis of an idea—an original output.

Students need to become problem-solvers. In life, learners will find obstacles, glitches, conflicts, where they need to overcome these obstacles. They need to be able to devise real solutions to real-world problems. They need to be risk-takers who are not afraid to get their hands dirty in the process, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and device more efficient and effective ways of trouble-shooting their glitches.

Learners should be able to navigate themselves around digital and non-digital environments to develop unique solutions. They are constantly searching for their own unique and imaginative ways of presenting themselves and the solutions they have of any given project. Social media can be one avenue for modern student project presentation as these can produce instant feedback from peers. This avenue to express themselves in ways other than traditional paper-and-pencil output inspires students to shine and be more innovative and unique in their learning.

Students need to become more analytical thinkers; they need to critique, compare and contrast and apply ideas, evaluate situations and synthesize concepts and theories. Analytical thinking allows students to deal with practical life problems and situations, empowering them to make research-based decisions and not just flimsy, unfounded quick fixes to problems in their lives.

Learners of the 21st century need to collaborate effectively with others in the work place and in the global community. Students in this age are social by nature— they want to manipulate their environment together with their peers. This is essential for students’ social and emotional development. In the real world, students collaborate with each other using the internet on a daily basis. Better collaborators make better citizens in this global community.

Students must not only be able to communicate through speech, but also through different media. They now have the means to communicate using written, audio, and video formats or a combination of text and speech. Students love to connect with one another using different social media platforms. Their personal interactions become more and more fluid and seamless. Teachers need to be able to tap these communication skills for the benefit of students’ personal and professional lives.

Finally, our students need be responsible human beings who are aware of the people around them. They need to understand that the power of information and the learnings they accumulate from the world must only be used for the betterment of himself and of others around him—and not to cause any harm or damage. Students should know the proper ethics and accountability for the consequences of their actions to others.

These 21st century skills would mean a great deal of benefit if we can teach them to our students in this global community.

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The author is Teacher III at Lourdes Northwest Elementary School