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commentary (Education Week) As Thomas Friedman put it in a recent New York Times column, globalization compounds the urgency for students to develop the skills and knowledge they need for economic and civic success in the 21st century. Yet despite widespread agreement among parents, educators, employers and policymakers worldwide that students need skills like critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork and creativity, these skills are stubbornly difficult to teach and learn. The "transmission" model, through which teachers transmit factual knowledge via lectures and textbooks, remains the dominant approach to compulsory education in much of the world. Students taught through this method typically do not practice applying knowledge to new contexts, communicating it in complex ways, solving problems or developing creativity. In short, as our new paper lays out, it is not the most effective way to teach 21st century skills. Decades of empirical research about how individuals learn, however, provide valuable insight into how pedagogy can address the need for 21st century skills. Indeed, the research suggests nine lessons that inform how to teach these skills:
Progressing from the outdated "transmission" model to the "21st century" model will involve entire educational systems. As educational purposes change, curriculum frameworks, instructional methods and assessments must also. The changes demand increased teacher and administrator capacity and affect many facets of human capital, including teacher training, professional development, career mobility and the teaching profession's cultural standing. While there has been progress in preparing students for the 21st century, the remaining work will require of teachers, administrators and policymakers precisely the skills that we deem critical for students—as well as the political will to ensure that educators directly involved in transitioning to the 21st century model have the time, support and resources they need. This study was presented as part of Asia Society's Global Cities Education Network Symposium in May at our new Centre in Hong Kong. Anna R. Saavedra is an associate policy researcher at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation, and V. Darleen Opfer is director of RAND Education. This commentary originally appeared on Education Week on October 24, 2012. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis.
How can you integrate 21st century skills in the teaching/learning process?How to Implement 21st Century Skills in Class. Make the experience personal. Our learners are our inspiration and our starting point. ... . Provide authentic content. ... . Opt for relevant and/or entertaining topics. ... . Get into 'low-prep for you, higher-level thinking for them' mode. ... . Give feedback. ... . Reflect. ... . Enjoy the journey!. What are the 21st century skills that our learners should develop during teaching learning?Learning Skills: Also known as the "four Cs" of 21st century learning, these include critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.
What is the role of the 21st century teacher to the learning process of the learners?These are the characteristics of a 21st Century Teacher: Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity so that all students achieve in the global society. Enable students to maximize the potential of their formal and informal learning experiences. Facilitate learning in multiple modalities.
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