1.5 Essential 21st-century skills for today’s students

What are 21st-century skills?

           

It is important to note that there is no clear consensus on what skills should be included in the category of 21st-century skills. The term itself represents a list of skills that students need to acquire for work, life and citizenship. Let’s look at some proposed skills.

For instance, Tony Wagner suggests seven survival skills:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving;
• Collaboration and leadership;
• Effective oral and written communication;
• Accessing and analysing information;
• Curiosity and imagination;
• Initiative and entrepreneurialism;
• Agility and adaptability.

Main points:

ACTIVITY:

What other skills do you consider to be crucial for 21st-century learning?

Can you list some examples of how you teach your students 21st-century skills?

PADLET

My contribution:

I would add problem-solving and decision-making skills. For problem-solving, I would suggest activities where my students are given a problem, like misbehaving in school and bullying, and I would let them find ways to prevent these behaviors. My students could take interviews or create a movie. For decision-making skills, I would let the children organize a visit in a place they like and let them take care all the necessary actions to make that happen.