In-Depth Understanding of the Attributes of 21 st Century Education(Source: 21st Century Schools (2011)

Collaborative Activity: In groups of 5, follow the instructions below:

1. Distinguish the eight attributes from each other Highlight key points in each attribute
2. Read on and learn more about each of these attributes in greater detail.
3. Discuss those detail with your team. Gather inputs from each team member create a draft of
infographic
4. After discussing all the attributes, pick an attribute for your team to discuss through draw lots)-,
sketch or lay out how you would represent and present the specific attribute in class with creativity
and critical thinking next meeting:
You may want to choose your presentation with these Creative Interactive Ideas or presentation
techniques:
1.Design an engaging infographic to illustrate key concepts.

2. Develop a multimedia presentation slides, PowerPoint, or Google Slides) using video, audio, and
visual elements.
3.Create a songs or jingle

Songs are a good way to interest your audience about the attribute you chose. You can find songs
about all sorts of subjects on YouTube.

Note: There’s a lot to think about when you’re in class. It’s important to ensure that what you’re
teaching the children is as educational and as interesting as possible - with the aim of engaging the
students in the subject and hopefully even enabling them to enjoy learning!
This can be a very difficult balance to strike. However, it’s made easier by these interactive
presentation ideas listed in this article, which can engage even the most distracted of students!

3. Interactive GAMES
Interactive games for class presentations are always a popular way to ensure that students stay
engaged! Some examples include:

1. Pictionary - A guessing game in which players attempt to identify words from pictures drawn by
other players.
2. Hangman or an alternative like spaceman-
Hangman is a simple and fun word game that will test your word knowledge!
Awesome graphics, common use words (no odd ones), 3 different hints to help you with the hard
ones!
3. Three Truths and a Lie Game - Provide each person with two slips of paper and a pen or pencil.
On one sheet of paper, instruct everyone to write down four statements about themselves. Three
 of the statements should be true and one of them should be false. Allow everyone about five
minutes to come up with four good statements.
4. Charade ( Total Physical Response-TPR)- Means sounds like remember. The person acting out the
charade can't speak or make any kind of sound. And can't point at objects or people in the room to
give clues.
Provide each person with two slips of paper and a pen or pencil. On one sheet of paper, instruct
everyone to write down four statements about themselves. Three of the statements should be true and
one of them should be false. Allow everyone about five minutes to come up with four good statements
It’s best to make these games related to the attribute assigned to your team.

ATTRIBUTES OF 21ST CENTURY EDUCATION:

I. Integrated and Interdisciplinary
Nowadays, knowledge is no longer distinctly divided into clear-cut learning chunks or separate subjects.
Education in the 21st century is characterized by linkages among various subject areas in an integrated
manner. The new approach promotes the utilization of learning from various disciplines.
This critical attribute implies that teachers need to review the school curriculum and identify strategies
or ways on how different subjects can be effectively linked to enhancing the learning experience of
students.
For example, music and algebra can be linked together in the discussion of fractions. The time signature
of music uses fractions; as such, you as a good teacher, can certainly apply this to both your music or
math classes.

II. Technologies and Multimedia

Education in the 21st century makes full use of available Information and Communication Technology, or
ICT (e.g., computers and the internet) as well as multimedia (e.g., using audio and video-based
instruction) to improve teaching and learning activities. The ability to find, evaluate, utilize, and create
information using technologies and multimedia, or digital technology in general, is referred to as digital
literacy. As a teacher, some of your day-to-day activities – writing reports, creating multimedia
presentations, and communicating or exchanging information with your colleagues and students online –
require different levels of digital literacy. As such, you need to develop your digital literacy skills so that
you can in turn pass these on to your learners.
This critical attribute implies that your school will need to acquire and use computers and various
multimedia equipment to enhance learning to the best extent possible. Training is also needed for
teacher-users as part of a bigger “technology plan”.

III. Global Classrooms

Education in the 21st century aims to produce global citizens by exposing students to the concerns of the
region, and other countries. They are encouraged to react and respond to issues as part of their roles as
global citizens. global classroom starts with teachers who have a global perspective, foster cultural
awareness, and help their students live as global citizens. Educators should be trained to teach their
subjects through a global lens to prepare students to thrive in the 21st century. Global teachers
implement the following six actions in their classrooms:
1.They encourage students to investigate the world beyond their immediate environment
2.They teach students how to conduct age-appropriate research.
3.They cultivate an environment in which students recognize multiple perspectives on any given subject
and articulate their perspectives thoughtfully and respectfully.
4.They develop students’ abilities to communicate ideas effectively with diverse audiences that bridge
geographic, linguistic, ideological, and cultural barriers.
5.They support students in viewing themselves as players in the world who are ready to tackle the
complex problems of the world.
6.They cultivate connections between their students and their local and global communities.

IV. Creating/Adapting to Constand Personal and Social Change, and Lifelong Learning
Education in the 21st century subscribes to the belief that learning does not only happen inside the
school and during one’s schooling years. Learning can take anywhere, anytime, regardless of one’s age.
This means that teachers should facilitate students’ acquisition of KSAVs that go beyond academics.
Learning should take place not only to pass exams but also for transferring knowledge to real-life
situations. The curriculum should be planned in such a way that the students will continue to learn even
outside the school’s portals.

V. Student-Centered
Education in the 21st century is focused on students as learners. It is tailor-fit to address the individual
learning needs of each student. Differentiated instruction is common in 21st-century classrooms, where
diverse student factors are considered when planning and delivering instruction. You, as a teacher, can
structure learning that addresses the variety of learning styles, interests, needs, and abilities found in
your classroom.
This critical attribute implies that teachers should act as facilitators of learning. – as “sages on the stage”
but as “ ages on the side”. Learners should be given opportunities to discover new knowledge, learn with
one another, and create their learnings.

VI. 21st Century Skills

Education in the 21st century promotes the skills needed to be productive members of today’s society. It
is not enough for students to learn basic skills of reading, writing, and numeracy, but should develop in
themselves skills that would help them cope with life and work in 21st-century communities. These skills
include, among others, critical and creative thinking skills, problem-solving, and decision-making. As a
teacher, you are expected to possess these 21st-century skills before you can help your students develop
these skills.
 VII. Project-Based and Research-Driven
Among the critical attributes of 21st-century education emphasis on data, information, and evidence-
based decision-making. It relies on student-driven activities to encourage active learning. This implies
that teachers of the 21st century need to be knowledgeable about research to guide their student’s
learning through self-directed activities, such as learning projects within and outside their classrooms.
Investigatory projects showcased in many science fairs across Southeast Asia and in the world are
examples of Research-based activities of students.
VIII. Relevant, Rigorous, and Real-World
Education in the 21st century is meaningful because it is rooted in the real-life day-to-day activities of
learners. It can be applied to the realities of the present and includes what students need to develop to
enable them to become productive members of the 21 st century.
This critical attribute implies that topics are taught using current and relevant information and linked to
real-life situations and context. As a 21st century teacher, you need to be updated on the current trends,
developments, and issues in your school, community, and in the world, so that your teaching will be
relevant to the lives of your students. Newspapers, TV and radio news, and the internet are good sources
of relevant and up-to-date information that you can access.