21st Century Education

Our world is marked by increasing change, evolving technologies, and the phenomenal growth of information.  21st century education needs to be different because the rate of change is so rapid that just keeping up-to-date in any domain is considered as a challenge. We need to make sure that our skills will not become obsolete and that we are able to make the most of the new opportunities. How we teach must reflect how our students learn and the world in which they will emerge.

Twenty-first-century learning exemplifies an approach to teaching that merges content to skill. Without skills, students are left to memorize facts, recall details and relegate their educational experience to passivity. Without content, students may engage in problem-solving or team-working experiences that fall into in consequentiality, into relevance without rigidity. A 21st century teacher has the initiative to motivate, thus moulding learners to take intellectual risks, foster learning dispositions, and nurture school communities where everyone is a learner.

One of the most essential skills needed in order for students to be successful in the 21st century is critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. Simply being able to read books or do math computations would be worthless unless students are given the capability of digesting the information and the ability to apply that accumulated knowledge in their daily life. Other essential skill includes the ability to be self-disciplined and responsible in setting and assessing goals. Assuming the responsibility for their education will be enough for them to be self-motivated in making choices concerning their education and accepting the consequences of their action or inaction. Giving the students the tools needed to always continue learning. Education should be a life long pursuit and building a strong foundation so that they can continue building it all throughout their lives. And, if we hope to succeed as a country, we should give that opportunity to all, not just to those that can afford a quality education. The key to 21st century education is to leave classic education behind or to modify it to be at par with the ever changing times. Today’s education system faces irrelevance unless we bridge the gap between how students live and how they learn. In today’s modern society, students have access to rich information and global communication where teachers support, facilitate, encourage, and collaborate with each learner. Students use technology in every facet of their lives, therefore the instructional day should incorporate that same technology seamlessly into the curriculum and the way we educate them.

I believe that in order to transcend from a 21st century teacher, I must become a learner myself to be able to understand and apply different learning styles. I should continue to absorb experiences and knowledge and stay current to be able to adapt a teaching method inclusive of different modes of every learner.