What is 21st Century Learning?

“All students have an educational experience preparing them to be effective lifelong

learners and contributors.” –Forbes, 2019
Battelle for Kids thinks of encouraging communities to develop a Portrait of a
Graduate embracing key skills including critical thinking, communication, collaboration,
and creativity that young people need to thrive in this complex rapidly changing world.
Thus, 21st century skills refer to a broad set of knowledge, skills, work habits, and
character traits that are believed—by educators, school reformers, college professors,
employers, and others—to be critically important to success in today’s world, particularly
in collegiate programs and contemporary careers and workplaces.
https://www.edglossary.org/21st-century-skills/

Three Categories of 21st Century Skills

1. Learning Skills (Four C’s) - teaches students about the mental processes
required to adapt and improve upon a modern work environment.
 Critical Thinking -finding solutions to problems
 Creativity -thinking outside the box
 Collaboration -working with others
 Communication -talking to others

2. Literacy skills (IMT) -focuses on how students can discern facts, publishing
outlets, and the technology behind them. There’s a strong focus on determining
trustworthy sources and factual information to separate it from the misinformation
that floods the Internet.
 Information literacy -understanding facts, figures, statistics, and data
 Media literacy -understanding the methods and outlets in which information is
published
 Technology literacy -understanding the machines that make the Information Age
possible

3. Life skills (FLIPS) -take a look at intangible elements of a student’s everyday

life. These intangibles focus on both personal and professional qualities.
 Flexibility -deviating from plans as needed
 Leadership -motivating a team to accomplish a goal
 Initiative -starting projects, strategies, and plans on one’s own
 Productivity -maintaining efficiency in an age of distractions
 Social skills -meeting and networking with others for mutual benefit
https://www.aeseducation.com/career-readiness/what-are-21st-century-skills
Who belongs to 21st Century?

21ST CENTURY STUDENTS:

Generation Z – born between 1995 and 2009 – most do not remember life without the internet,
and have had technology like smartphones, iPads, smartboards and other devices available
throughout most of their schooling.

Generation Alpha – born since 2010 – they are younger than smartphones, the iPad, 3D
television, Instagram, and music streaming apps like Spotify. This is the first generation likely to
see in the 22nd century in large numbers.
https://thinkstrategicforschools.com/education-21st-century/

What does 21st Century Learning Look Like?

(Rogen Berger)

1) there is a culture of respect and belonging, where students can be their true selves;
2) where work is meaningful and will impact the world;
3) where professionals provide expert critique and guidance; and
4) where there is a genuine audience.

Progress toward 21st Century Learning

-new schools have been formed

-schools being transformed
-formed new learning goals
-new goals, tools, strategies
- updated their learning goals

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanderark/2019/10/02/what-is-21st-century-learning-
how-do-we-get-more/#776869b125bc