Developing 21st Century Skills

Dear Friends!

Myblog is not meant for entertainment, but it is informative, so if u are interested to learn some thing about science and technology, pls. go through this.

After a long gap I am coming to write blogs, and all these days I am busy with my classes as well as writing books on “values of teachers”.

Me working as Asst.Professor in Education and in computer science, wish to give a
valuable information about science and technology, which will be useful for students studying post-graduation, and research scholars, and here with I don’t want to give any unnecessary information and I don’t want to waste our valuable time by writing poems and poetry etc..

just go through all my blogs, consists of technical and informative issues, and if u have any doubt regarding any thing kindly ask me by posting a message, or to my Email, whenever it is needed.

I welcome u in this regard. The reason behind writing blogs on science and technology is, my only friend recently asked me to learn computer knowledge and I took that as easy, since I don’t have sufficient time to spend on that. And it is not easy to learn on chat. Now I think on that and I wish to make everyone to learn that knowledge...


Now Let us discuss about…..

Developing 21st Century Skills: (Among students)

As we are aware of that Globalization and advancements in technology are driving changes in the social, technological, economical, environmental and politial landscapes at a rate and magnitude that is too great, and too multiple to ignore.

Dear friends, as society changes, the skills that students need to be successful in life also change. Basic literacy of reading, writing and mathematics are no longer sufficient. Our students need to master those basic skills as well as read critically, write persuasively, think and reason logically, and solve complex problems. A successful student must also be adopting at managing information-finding, evaluating, and applying new content understanding with great flexibility.


They must be equipped with skills and perspectives designed to help them anticipate change and plan accordingly.


This will equip them to thrive in a world characterized by rapid continuous change. A simple question to ask is “how has the world of a child changed in the last 150 years?” and the answer is, “it is hard to imagine any way in which it hasn’t challenged!. But if u looks at school today versus 100 years ago, it is more similar than dissimilar.”



There is a profound gap between the knowledge and skills most students acquire in school and those required in today’s world and technology-infused workplaces. The technology that has become so pervasive in our daily lives is still outside our comfort zone in the school environment. The challenge is to overcome traditional ways, and change pedagogical practices in ways that reflect the changing social, political and economic landscape in which 21st century students will learn..


In order to thrive in a digital economy, students will need digital age proficiencies. It is important for the educational system to make parallel changes in order to fulfill its objectives, namely the preparation of students for the world beyond the classroom. Therefore, the educational system must understand and embrace the 21st century skills within the context of rigorous academic standards. Schools, just like businesses, industries and families, must adapt to these changes and “bridge the gap between how students live and how they learn”. Accelerating technological change, rapidly accumulating knowledge, increasing global competition and rising workforce capabilities around the world make 21st century skills essential.


The following is a list of 21st century skills, which allows students to prepare for careers, requiring them to acquire new knowledge, learn new technologies, rapidly process information, make decisions and communicate in a global and diverse society.
Information and communicatiion skills

In these there are four types of skills


1. Information and media literacy skills:- Analysing, accessing, managing,
integrating, evaluating and creating information in a variety of forms and
media. Understanding the role of media in society.



2. Communication skills: - understanding, managing and creating effective oral, written and multimedia communication in a variety of forms and contexts.



Thinking and problem-solving skills


In these there are three types of skills

1.
Critical thinking and systems thinking:-Exercising sound reasoning in understanding and making complex choices, understanding the interconnections among systems

2.
Problem identification, formulation and solution:-

Ability to frame, analyse and solve problems.

3.
Creativity and intellectual curiosity:- Developing, implementing and communicating
new ideas to others, staying open and responsive to new and diverse
perspectives.

Interpersonal and self – directional skills


In these there are four types of skills should be developed.

1. Interpersonal and collaborative skills:- Demonstrating teamwork and leadership; adapting to varied roles and responsibilities; working productively with others; exercising empathy; respecting diverse perspectives.


2. Self-direction:- Monitoring one’s own understanding and learning needs, locating appropriate resources, transferring learning from one domain to another.



3. Accountability and Adaptability:- Exercising personal responsibility and flexibility in personal workplace and community contexts; setting and meeting high standards and goals for oneself and others; tolerating ambiguity.



4. Social responsibility:-
Acting responsibility with the interests of the larger community in mind, demonstrating ethical behaviour in personal, work place and community contexts..


There is a need for students to develop learning skills that enable them to think critically, analyse information, communicate, collaborate, and problem-solve, and the realize the essential role that technology plays in realizing these learning skills in today’ knowledge-based society. Representative of the ICT literacy skills are the following six arenas critical to student’s success in the workplace..

Communicate Effectively:


Students must have a range of skills to express themselves not only through paper and
pencil, but also audio, video, animation, design software as well as a host of new environments..( Ex. Email, websites, message boards, blogs, streaming
media, etc..)

Analyse and interpret data:


Studentsmust have the ability to crunch, compare, and choose among the glut of data now available web-based and other electronic formats..

Understand computational modeling:


Students must possess an understanding of the power, limitations, and underlying assumptions of various data representation systems, such as computational models and simulations, which are increasingly driving a wide-range of disciplines.

Manage and priorities tasks:


Students must be able to manage the multi-tasking, selection, and prioritizing across
technology applications that allow them to move fluidly among teams, assignments and communities of practice..

Engage in problem solving:


Students must have an understanding of how to apply what they know and can do to new situations.

Ensure security and safety:


Students must know and use strategies to acknowledge, identity, and negotiate 21st
century risks.


Looking into the role and importance of 21st century skills in the present world, it becomes vital for colleges of education to incorporate 21stst century skills in their curriculum so that future teachers are equipped with skills and strategies to promote 21st century skills among students