Week 1-21st Century Skills

As our society grows and changes, our children need to learn new skills to adapt to the unique environment in which we live. 21st century skills are the skills that let students master critical thinking, collaboration, communication and problem solving. Students must become literate in more than just the core subjects of school. It is important to have a comprehensive understanding of technology, but also to be prepared to be an adult in our ever-changing world. Students need to be able to understand technology, but also basic ways of coping with conflict and problem solving. By mastering life and career skills, learning and innovation skills and information, media and technology skills, students will be fully prepared to tackle most conflicts that arise within our time.

I am currently studying Early Childhood Education, and when I graduate college, I hope to teach young students, possibly of kindergarten age. 21st century skills are so essential, that it is necessary to begin integrating that type of learning into the education of children at the youngest possible age. It is always harder to learn something when you are older, and I am a strong believer in getting to children when they are young. Through early intervention, especially in high-risk classrooms, we can improve the lives and futures of our students. It is important to begin molding the minds of children as soon as they can understand you. We can prepare children for jobs in all sorts of fields that are going to be essential to our world in a few years. I am striving to learn more about 21st century skills because I want to be able to pass those skills on to my students when I teach.

The YouTube video I attached shows how students are a part of a world that is completely different from what they are being taught in schools. It was made to motivate teachers to integrate 21st Century Skills into their teaching. It has a huge focus on technology and does not really focus on the other skills that are a part of it. It applies to the subject directly because it shows the huge disconnect that is occurring in classrooms.