BY

G. SUBRAMANIAM

HISTORY
This is a story about the big
public conversation the nation is
not having about education
whether an entire generation of
kids will fail to make the grade
in the global economy because
they cant think their way
through
abstract
problems,
work in teams, distinguish good
information from bad, or speak
a language other than English.
How to Build a Student for the
21st Century, TIME Magazine,
December 18, 2006

HISTORY
Japanese and Dutch 25-34 year olds who have only
completed high school easily outperform some
countries university graduates of the same age.

More Education Does Not Automatically

Translate Into Better Skills

WHY
Fundamental Changes in the Global Economy,
Jobs and Businesses
Over the last several decades, the industrial
economy based on manufacturing has shifted to a
service
economy
driven
by
information,
knowledge and innovation.

DEFINITION
The term "21st-century skills" is generally used
to refer to competencies such as knowledge,
critical thinking and problem-solving, innovation,
teamwork & collaboration, communication skills,
ICT literacy, lifelong learning and attitude that
advocates believe schools need to teach to help
students thrive in today's world.

KNOWLEDGE
Strong foundation knowledge (concepts,
facts, principles) and skills related to the
disciplines.

CRITICAL THINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING

Being able to examine processes, systems,
objects, issues, events and ideas in terms
of their component parts before accepting
or formulating an opinion or conclusion
about their worth, and the value and
relevance of information.

CRITICAL THINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING

Solve different kinds of non-familiar problems

in both conventional and innovative ways

INNOVATION & ENTERPRISE

Being innovative is the
ability to see possibilities,
seize opportunities, create
new ventures, markets or
products and promote it to a
wider audience.

TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION

Able to work collaboratively within a team in
pursuit of common goal and be prepared to
lead a team.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Communicate effectively in specific context
and situation.

ICT SKILLS

LIFE LONG LEARNING

Lifelong learning is all purposeful
learning activity, undertaken on an
ongoing basis with the goal of improving
knowledge, skills and competence.

ATTITUDES, VALUES, DISPOSITIONS

Attitude is a positive, negative, or mixed reaction to a person,

object, or idea.
Value denotes something's degree of importance, with the aim of
determining what action of life is best to do or live.
Dispositions defined as internal values, beliefs and attitudes

21ST CENTURY LEARNING

20th Century vs. 21st Century Learning

20th Century Classrooms

21st Century Classrooms

Time-based

Outcome-based

Focus on memorization of discrete facts

Focus on what students KNOW, CAN DO and

ARE LIKE after all the details are forgotten

Lessons focus on lower level of Blooms

Taxonomy knowledge, comprehension
and application

Learning is designed on upper levels of

Blooms synthesis, analysis and
evaluation

Textbook-driven

Research-driven

Passive learning

Active learning

Learners work in isolation classroom within 4

walls

Learners work collaboratively with classmates

and others around the world the Global
Classroom

Teacher-centered: teacher is center of attention

and provider of information

Student-centered: teacher is facilitator/coach

Little or no student freedom

Great deal of student freedom

Fragmented curriculum

Integrated and Interdisciplinary curriculum

Grades averaged

Grades are based on what was learned

20th Century vs. 21st Century Learning

Low expectations

High expectations If it isnt good, it isnt

done We expect, and ensure, that all
students succeed in learning at high levels.
Some may go higher we get out of their way
to let them do that.

Teacher is judge. No one else sees student

work.

Self, Peer and Other assessments. Public

audience, authentic assessments.

Curriculum/School is irrelevant and

meaningless to the students.

Curriculum is connected to students interests,

experiences, talents and the real world.

Print is the primary vehicle of learning and

assessment.

Performances, projects and multiple forms of

media are used for learning and assessment.

Diversity in students is ignored.

Curriculum and instruction address student

diversity.

Literacy is the 3 Rs reading, writing and math

Multiple literacies of the 21st century aligned

to living and working in a globalized new
millennium.

BLOOMS TAXONOMY

Education for todays future

Open up lessons
The 30 minute lesson with rigid timetable forcing teachers
to execute their lesson plans with military precision.
In UK, an hour lesson that give teachers and students the
chance to explore cross-curricular topics in depth.
Schools which have embraced this approach have
reported higher levels of staff satisfaction, along with
greater levels of maturity and independence among
students.

Think outside the classroom box

Get Personal

Tap Into Students Digital Expertise

Get Real With Projects

Expect students to be teachers

Help teachers to be students

Assessment

Work With Families, Not Just Children

Power to the student

21ST CENTURY STANDARDS

Focus on 21st century skills, content knowledge and expertise.
Build understanding across and among academic subjects as
well as 21st century interdisciplinary themes
Emphasize deep understanding rather than shallow knowledge
Engage students with the real world data, tools, and experts
they will encounter in college, on the job, and in life--students
learn best when actively engaged in solving meaningful
problems
Allow for multiple measures of mastery

The illiterate of the 21st century

will not be those who cannot
read and write, but those who
cannot learn, unlearn, and
relearn.
- Alvin Toffler

CHARLES DARWIN THEORY

It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the
one most responsive to change.

CHARLES DARWIN (1809 1882)