Importance Of 21st Century Teaching And Learning

“Education in the life of present-day knowledge and need calls for some spirited and creative innovations both in substance and the purpose of current pedagogy”

Education plays a vital role in this era. I support that education should not only be focused on books but also on critical sense and practical knowledge. Students should be able to experiment with the technological advancement and its outcomes.

The present is always changing into a better future. There have been many jobs in the past that do not even exist now due to the presence of technology. Nowadays, technology has become a major part of our lives and created a huge change in this world, and gives an opportunity for children to enhance their creativity and adapt to change quickly. In Cathy Davidson’s article, “Project Classroom Makeover”, Davidson discusses how vital the process of unlearning is to students and present education system. Unlearning discourages students from learning in a fashion that has all the pre-set directions, and gives independence to students so that they can explore with creativity. The process of unlearning is quite beneficial as it gives an opportunity for contemporary America to enhance creativity, embrace change, and become more independant.

Amy Caesar’s lecture advocates for constructionist education as she believes the new era of 21st-century learning entailing creativity exists now. Specifically, she supports the alternative education system and outlines the various forces that have attempted to hinder the actualization of DL learning such as the teachers union and the ministry of education. Overall, Caesar spotlights the importance of utilizing knowledge in a manner that is applicable and flexible to all members of society.

Education is one of the important factors that determine a sustainability future. What to teach is also a biggest concern for education. On one hand, educators want to teach the knowledge that is useful for the students in society today. However, some also argue that people should learn critical thinking not just teaching skill-centered knowledge. According to Diane Ravitch, believes that the new from of education called “21st century skills” which just focus on teaching the skills to prepare people for the global economy, and neglects the importance of other subjects such as literature, history and art. She suggests that these subjects help not just help students think critically, but also let them think beyond the concept and see the world widely.

“How Are Educators Responding? The New Zealand Ministry of Education dines five key capabilities for living and lifelong learning listed as: Thinking, using language, symbols, and text Managing Self-Relating to others, and Participating and contributing” (Crockett). These required skills can also be found in Common Core. Common Core is what a student, K-12, should know in math and English language arts when they transition to each grade. These standards are frequently found in the college and career world worthless. There is a gap in between what college instructors want from their students because of what Common Core taught. College instructors, according to ACT Inc., found that students in middle and high schools are mainly summarizing author's ideas and analyzing source text, but college instructors want students who can “generate sound ideas - a skill applicable across much broader contexts” (Strauss). This is directly related to what 21st century student’s skills should be. “So, according to the folks we’ve asked, the consensus is that students need transparency-level skills in these areas: Problem solving, Creativity and, Analytic thinking, Collaboration, Communication and, Ethics, action, and accountability” (Strauss). Each particular skill has a reason for being on this list. Problem solving is for situations that we cannot conceive right now. In addition, those who are skilled in this area are more likely to not be watched by the higher up more than others. Creativity is something that Common Core diminishes. If you ask a student what creativity is most responses will be, “expression” or “uniqueness”. This is very important to the first skill because thinking outside the box can help find much better solutions. Collaboration and communication go hand-in-hand. Work forces of the future will all be connected through all

The four 21st centuries include creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. Creativity can be accomplished outside of school and can come in many forms like art, music, or technology. Collaboration is usually accomplished in school, but in fact, majority of work on group projects has to be done outside of school. But thanks to technology it’s easier to communicate with group members and to stay organized. Finally, there's critical thinking which kind of falls under collaboration and creativity. Critical thinking is like problem-solving so it’s very helpful when dealing with group projects. Many teachers at Punahou try and make questions on homework or tests that revolve around critical thinking. So school isn’t truly needed to develop 21st-century skills.

Ravitch complains that the 21st century approach is not in the best interest of the students. She complains that through this approach educators are wanting students to think critically, problem solve, and compare and contrast; without giving them knowledge first to understand the information, bring new ideas, and have solutions for problems. Ravitch states that we are forgetting the the most important key aspect which is that we are learning from our past and the knowledge we have gained over many years. She complains that learning should not just be the hands on current information but information from our past and how crucial that information can be to becoming an intelligent person.

Students will encounter different views and ideas in a post-college world requiring them to use critical thinking skills they polish in college. Students come to college with many different backgrounds hoping to gain many new experiences to help them be successful in the world. In the elementary field, there are many different skills teachers hoping to teach students, so they are prepared for the post-academic world; they are called the 21st century skills. A few of them are collaboration, cultural education as well as problem solving. Collaboration is a skill that could help the student’s be successful in any career they strive for, but the skill would also help them interact with peers. Cultural education is extremely important when

Growing up I have always been several steps ahead with my education. In order for my skills to thrive, I had to be ingenious about how to gain knowledge. Being innovative and learning was fun in these early years. I can remember that one of my learning pals was a character named Reader Rabbit. He helped me learn to think and wonder. Where did Reader Rabbit and the innovation disappear to? It was like a magician with the rabbit in the box. Where exactly did the rabbit go? I had my eyes on the box the whole time! Did I miss something? It is hard to believe that someone so focused can be misdirected so easily. Today’s educational system is the magician, fooling schools into focusing in the wrong areas.

We live in a country where an educational requirement should be learn about foreign cultures and to be conversant in different languages because of the high percentage of immigration to United States. In the article: “How To Bring Our School Into The 21st Century” the authors talk more about how to improve different types of things, i.e to modernize, improve book to make them shorter but with value content and among other things. Among the different point of view of the authors knowing more about the world helps prepare young people for college studies, international experience, and active participation in civic life. I believe this is really important because United States have a lot of diversity in languages and cultures and is kind of important

As schools promote 21st-century learning, there has been a push for literacies which encourage students to be 21st-century learners. The two overarching literacies, new and digital, has taken over the three R’s literacy, reading, writing, and arithmetic. New Literacies continuously change due to the new technology emerging providing different ways to get information and communicate with others (Leu et al., 2015). In contrast, digital literacy is the ability to use digital tools to access information for understanding and communication (Jose, 2016). New literacies and digital literacies also differ in aspects of use in the classroom. New literacies are the building blocks for digital literacy; which are the skills students need to understand the internet (Maloy, Verock-O'Loughlin, Edwards, & Woolf, 2017). New literacies can be taught without the use of technology because students are learning to locate, evaluate, synthesize, and communicate information. Teachers can demonstrate these skills using encyclopedias and journal articles to gain a minimalistic comprehension. Once students learn the necessary understanding, teachers can transfer these skills to online which will promote digital literacy; furthermore, digital literacy can only be taught using digital tools. Teachers would teach students how to use computers and the social practices of the new literacies to gain an understanding of the digital literacy (Jose, 2016). Furthermore, digital literacies

Education in the 21ST Century for Policy and Practice.” High School Journal, vol 97, no

Students are given the opportunity to learn efficiently from educators that are diligently dedicated and knowledgeable of their profession. Incorporating programs that reflects one’s mission will ensure learning that is flourishing. 21st Century for example, is an educational organization that provides the required assets for educational opportunities to thrive. 21st Century defines its program through the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (2007) that advocates readiness for students by providing tools and resources that will readily prepare students to advance in the digital world. This gives the educator the opportunity to include various techniques of learning critical to global awareness.

Teaching and learning in the 21st century develop skills beyond listening, watching and remembering. Education in the 21st century incorporates advanced learning tools, development of skills, while actively involved in your own learning and environment. Also, education today is motivating while inspiring and preparing students for today’s world. Students gain the ability to adapt when needed for the changing world of tomorrow. Twenty-first century education is understanding how students learn with a more hands-on approach while building skills. However, the ‘4C’s creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration’ (Kolk, 2011) are skills that are important for students learning. Therefore, they can actively consume and create data and knowledge in ways that deliver substance and relevance to them (Bolstad, Gilbert, McDowall, Bull, Boyd & Hipkins, 2012; Watson, 2012). Clearly, the classroom in the 21st century is a modern environment. This modern environment consisting of little groups of tables placed together for students to sit and learn together as well as discuss what they are doing. Meanwhile, displaying student’s art to decorate the classroom has a sense of pride. Above all, the classroom has visible items as an interactive whiteboard, Internet access, projector and computers, accessible for student and teachers daily.