Bringing 21st Century Skills to Your Classroom

Bringing 21st Century Skills to Your Classroom

In the last 20 years, our world rapidly changed. The internet boomed, technology advanced, and our world and jobs adapted. These rapid changes lead many schools to pivot to teaching 21st century skills in the classroom.These skills break down into 3 main areas of focus: learning skills, literacy skills, and life skills. 

Learning Skills

Collaboration

Students may groan at group projects, but learning to work together, problem solve, and compromise as a team will set them up for greatness when they enter the workforce. 

Creativity

Creativity is not just for artists. Understanding how to apply creative thinking to a project will allow students to innovate ideas that are outside of the box. Not sticking to the status quo may be what leads your business to success.

Critical thinking

This area helps students find solutions to a problem. Preparing them to solve a problem on their own will push them to success when they are out of school. 

Communication

Communication is how we effectively explain an idea to another person. This can be done in several ways: in-person, telephone, email, texting, video-chat, or professional communication vs. personal. Communication is one of the most important skills to running a successful business or working at any job. 

Literacy Skills

Information literacy: “Understanding facts, figures, statistics, and data.” In an age when there are so many sources for information, it is important to teach students the difference between credible and non-credible information. When students see facts and figures, teach them to think critically on how that information was gathered and if the numbers are accurate or backed with research based information. 

Media literacy: “Understanding the methods and outlets in which information is published.” This is more relevant than ever. In no other time did we have more ways to get information from the media. With the internet, television, magazines, social media, and all the areas we gather our news and what is happening in the world, it is important to do thorough research before reciting information as facts.

Technology literacy: “Understanding the machines that make the Information Age possible.” In the last 20 years alone, technology has made tremendous strides. Staying up to date with technology and constantly learning the newest advancements is necessary for most jobs.

Life Skills

Flexibility: The ability to adapt in uncertain situations or in times where it is necessary to change direction.

Leadership: Someone that can inspire the team with strong communication, empathy, and decisive action that leads the team to success.

Initiative: The ability to take action through self-motivation. 

Productivity: Completing actionable steps in a timely manner that help your team’s overall mission or goal. 

Social Skills: Knowing how to build relationships and strong connections with others through effective communication, networking, small talk, and the ability to connect. 

How to apply these skills to your School Based Enterprise?

Are you running a SBE? This is your risk free environment to put these skills to the test. If you are a teacher, focus part of your curriculum around these skills. At the start of 2021, we will be releasing a comprehensive curriculum that has an entire section around 21st Century Skills. Many of these skills are even interwoven throughout the curriculum. 

It’s time for students to be prepared for the world that we are living in today. Adapt our classrooms to set up our students for success. 

References: https://www.aeseducation.com/blog/what-are-21st-century-skills