The following blog will consist of my own ideas/thoughts and research from both books and online sources. It will address the following question:
How do we prepare educators to effectively create learning activities that builds students' 21st century skills to be college and career ready?
A common saying in education circles is, "We need to prepare kids for jobs that don't exist yet."
All teachers want to help their students succeed. "To create successful futures, students need to be equipped with the necessary 21st century skills. Might sound cliche, but it's vital" (Hudson, 2020, para 1).
According to Hudson (2020), our students today are seeking opportunities to build these particular skills:
Students want an education that connects to the real world.
Many students feel under-prepared and lack persistence.
Students need tools to successfully manage change.
So how can we support educators in preparing effective learning activities and opportunities for students?
21st Century Skills are the 12 abilities that today's students need in order to succeed in their careers during the Information Age. While all twelve of those skills are necessary to teach, the "four C's" are often considered to be the most important.
The Four C’s of 21st Century Skills:
Critical Thinking
Creativity
Collaboration
Communication
Critical Thinking
In addition to working through problems, solving puzzles, and similar activities, critical thinking also includes an element of skepticism. "Critical thinking empowers students to discover the truth in assertions, especially when it comes to separating fact from opinion" (Stauffer, 2020, para 3).
Couros (2015) states, "Finding the problem is an essential part of learning--one that students miss out on when we pose the problem to them first" (p. 50). With critical thinking, students don’t just learn a set of facts or figures. Instead, they learn how to discover the facts and figures for themselves. They ask questions. They become engaged in the world around them. They help others think critically, too.
Critical Thinking Implementation Ideas: STEM Projects, Problem-Based Learning, Breakout EDU
Creativity
While creativity is often treated like a you-have-it-or-you-don’t quality, students can learn how to be creative by solving problems, creating systems, or just trying something they haven’t tried before. That doesn’t mean every student will become an artist or a writer. Instead, it means they’ll be able to look at a problem from multiple perspectives — including those that others may not see. "Creativity allows students to embrace their inner strengths from big-picture planning to meticulous organization. As a student learns about their creativity, they also learn how to express it in healthy and productive ways" (Stauffer, 2020, para 6).
Couros (2015) stresses that "Creation is crucial. Creating something helps students make a personal connection to the information--an important key for deeper learning" (p. 55). That’s not to say every single creative endeavor will be a ringing success. Students will fail at some point, and some of their ideas simply won’t work. But that’s okay. "The point of creativity is to encourage students to think differently than convention demands. They don’t have to do things the way they’ve always been done. Instead, they can figure out a better way" (Stauffer, 2020, para 8).
Creativity Implementation Ideas: Video Creation, Google Draw, Canva, GarageBand
Collaboration
Collaboration is important because whether students realize it or not, they’ll probably work with other people for the rest of their lives. "Virtually every job requires someone to work with another person at some point, even if it’s for something as simple as what to get for lunch. Practicing collaboration and teamwork helps students understand how to address a problem, pitch solutions, and decide the best course of action" (Stauffer, 2010, para 10). It’s also helpful for them to learn that other people don’t always have the same ideas that they do.
Collaboration Implementation Ideas: Google Docs, Parlay, Project-Based Group Learning, Kagan Cooperative Strategies
Communication
Communication is the practice of conveying ideas quickly and clearly. "In the age of text-based communications — SMS, emails, social media, etc. — it’s never been more important for students to learn how to convey their thoughts in a way that others can understand them" (Stauffer, 2020, para 13).
"Networks are crucial to innovation. The power of networking is sharing ideas, clarifying our thinking, and developing new and better ideas" (Couros, 2015, p. 52). With strong communication skills, students can streamline their ideas and make a positive impression on those around them.
Communication Implementation Ideas: Mystery Skypes/Zooms, Podcasts, Kagan Cooperative Strategies, KidBlog Connections
The Four C's....Together?
The four C’s of 21st Century skills let students create a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
It’s most accurate to say that students need the four C’s for any and every reason. "Critical thinking teaches students to question claims and seek truth. Creativity teaches students to think in a way that’s unique to them. Collaboration teaches students that groups can create something bigger and better than you can on your own. Communication teaches students how to efficiently convey ideas" (Stauffer, 2020, para 15).
Combined, the four C’s empower students to become one-person think tanks. Teaching 21st century skills is imperative. With the right tools and training, educators will feel "equipped to start integrating real-world skills into the curriculum early and make school-to-life connections" (Hudson, 2020). The result? Students will feel empowered and prepared for real life!
Couros (2015) said it best: "Great educators can work within the constraints of the system and still create innovative learning opportunities for their students" (p. 47).
References:
Couros, G. (2015). The innovator's mindset: Empower learning, unleash talent, and lead a culture of creativity. San Diego, CA: Dave Burgess Consulting.
Hudson, H. (2020, February 07). 5 Ways to Give Students the 21st‑Century Skills They Need to Succeed. Retrieved June 23, 2020, from https://xello.world/en/blog/21st-century-skills/
Stauffer, B. (2020, May 07). What Are the 4 C's of 21st Century Skills? Retrieved from https://www.aeseducation.com/blog/four-cs-21st-century-skills
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