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The Importance Of Competencies For The 21st Century

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21st Century Skills

The importance of competencies for the 21st century has led to fundamental questions about to what extent we provide the necessary knowledge base for children and youth to be competent in contemporary and future societies (Voogt et al., 2013). It is obvious that not only learners, but also teachers need to acquire 21st century competencies as well as become competent in supporting 21st century learning. Teachers need to be prepared for new pedagogical approaches that fit the 21st century, as well as to understand how information and communication technologies and pedagogy interact in order to be able to facilitate the development of 21st century competencies in their students (Voogt et al., 2013). It is not only a matter of trading 20th century content and goals for those of the 21st century, but a matter of redefining what has to be considered as core in the 21st century curriculum and considering the implications of such a curriculum for the current school system (Dede, 2010b; Voogt et al., 2013).
Educators agree with business leaders and other interested groups that specific skills are needed for students to succeed in life in the 21st century of global communication, social networking, and a world of new technologies (Beers, 2011; Moylan, 2008; McCoog, 2008). Teaching 21st century skills equips students to think critically, communicate effectively, to become self-directed learners and problem solvers. Educators, employers, and the general

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