What are the principles of 21St Century Skills?

The principles of 21st Century skills were developed to ensure that students acquire the

necessary skills and mindsets to be successful in the developing 21st-century society and become

a vital part of it. The principles are categorized into three different sections.

The principles are divided into three different sections (Stauffer, 2020).:

 First section is learning skills:

Also known as the "four Cs" of 21st century learning, these include:

Critical thinking:

Part of critical thinking is problem solving, working through things like puzzles that

challenge the brain, and simply asking “Why?”. But in today’s world where we can get

information at the click of a button, a large part of critical thinking is being able to look at

information and decide if it is credible or not.

Communication:

Teaching children that communication can come in many ways is important. It is not just

speaking verbally with someone to communicate but can also be non-verbal cues such as

hand gestures and facial expressions. Now that we live in such a digital world, it is also

important to teach children how to navigate digital spaces with responsibility.

Collaboration:

Most career paths require people to work together in some capacity. It is important for

kids to start learning how to problem solve and tackle issues in which the bigger picture

involves more than just themselves. It can be difficult for younger children to see the side

or stance from someone else’s point of view. This is a skill that takes lots of time

practicing.
 Creativity:

Part of critical thinking is problem solving, working through things like puzzles that

challenge the brain, and simply asking “Why?”. But in today’s world where we can get

information at the click of a button, a large part of critical thinking is being able to look at

information and decide if it is credible or not.

Why are these skills important?

The 4 C’s go hand in hand with each other and children need to be equipped with the

skills in all four areas to help them succeed in their future. Hiring managers and

employers seek out candidates with these skills, so it’s important to instill them in our

youth early on.

 Second section is life Skills:

Flexibility, initiative, social skills, productivity, leadership.

They help students navigate familiar and unfamiliar situations confidently and with a

social conscience. As the world becomes more complex and unpredictable, these skills

will give students a head start, as they will be able to handle uncertainty with enhanced

mental strength.

 Third section is Literacy Skills:

Information literacy:

Information literacy teaches our children the ability to understand facts, figures, statistics

and data therefore, it's necessary to teach kids how to identify when figures might not be

truthful or seem a little off. Teaching how to determine between fiction and truth is vital

for success in a world so inundated with information.

Media literacy:
The world, especially the online world, is saturated with false advertising and fake news.

With the rapid rate that news and stories are produced and consumed, we must teach our

children that unfortunately, not everything we read online or in the newspapers is always

true. Media literacy is the practice of identifying publishing methods, outlets, and sources

while distinguishing between the ones that are credible and the ones that are not.

Technology literacy:

Technology Literacy refers to the devices that provide us with our information or the

platforms on which we consume them. Teaching our children how to correctly use

technology while understanding the downfalls and loopholes, will make them much more

in tune with the online world.

The Importance of children learning these skills Literacy plays a huge role in our

children's overall development. It is the foundation of their understanding of the world. If

we teach literacy skills, we are planting the seed for them to be much more in tune with

life.

How do the 21st Century skills impact your teaching or your beliefs about

teaching?

The 21st century skills have a great impact on my beliefs about teaching and also on my

teaching techniques. I always try to teach these skills to my students in the activities that

we do in the class. Example: I try to put the students that they do not know each other to

teach them to collaborate and communicate with people who are different from them.

Which skill is the most important or critical for students to learn in order to be

successful?
 I believe that all 21st century skills are important, but the most important one is

collaboration. Most career paths require people to work together in some capacity, so it is

important to learn this skill in school so they will be an effective member in their team

and to know how to deal and work with others.

References:

https://zeeko.ie/what-are-the-3-literacy-skills-and-why-are-they-so-important-for-children-to-

learn/

https://www.studocu.com/en-us/document/university-of-the-people/education-in-context-history-

philosophy-and-sociology/21st-century-skills-that-students-need-to-be-successful/21099337

https://www.engineeringforkids.com/about/news/2021/april/what-are-the-4-cs-of-the-21st-

century/#:~:text=Communication%2C%20collaboration%2C%20critical%20thinking%2C,to

%20succeed%20in%20today's%20world.

https://pragyanam.school/blog/the-role-of-life-skills-in-21st-century-education/#:~:text=In

%20simple%20terms%2C%20life%20skills,ensuring%20true%20success%20and%20happiness.