Module 2: 21 CENTURY SKILL CATEGORIES st WHAT TO EXPECT 1. Identify the categories of 21st Century skills 2. Apply the 21st Century skills in preparing, planning and delivering a lesson 3. 3.Cite ways on how to enhance 21st Century skills of learners 4. Explain how 21st Century skills be integrated in the teaching-learning process 5. Cite implications of 21st Century skills to educators and to preservice teacher preparation 6. Draw relevant life lessons and significant values from the personal experience in attaining 21st Century skills 7. Analyze research abstract on 21st Century skills and its implications on the teaching-learning process 8. 8. Craft a curriculum plan matrix imbued with 21st Century learning outcomes Insert Picture PRE-DISCUSSION Group Mapping Activity: This is a strategy where members of the class present their prior knowledge on the topic 21st Century skill categories through group drawing/illustration. Procedure: 1. Group the students into 4 or 5 depending on the class size. 2. Provide each group a topic on 21st Century skill category to brainstorm about. 3. The group will synthesize their consolidated ideas and present in a form of illustration or drawing in a cartolina or Manila paper using any medium of their choice. 4. Each group will be given a chance to present the synthesis in class. 5. The class will find time for a brief reflection of the activity. Topics to be assigned to the groups: 1. 2. 3. 4. Life and Career Skills Information, Media and Technology Skills Learning and Innovation Skills Social and Cross-cultural Skills 5. Leadership and Productivity Skills LESSON OUTLINES 21st Century skills refer to a broad set of knowledge, skills, work habits, and character traits that are deemed necessary in coping with today’s world and future careers and workplaces. Thus, it can be applied in all academic subject areas and educational settings throughout a student’s life. The 21st Century Skills The 21st Century skills may include the following: (1) critical thinking, problemsolving, reasoning, analysis, interpretation, synthesizing information; (2) research skills and practices, interrogative questioning; (3) creativity, artistry, curiosity, imagination, innovation, personal expression; (4) perseverance, self-direction, planning, self-discipline, adaptability, initiative; (5) oral and written communication, public speaking and presenting, listening; (6) leadership, teamwork, collaborative, cooperation, facility in using virtual workplaces; (7) information and communication technology (ICT) literacy, media and Internet literacy, data interpretation and analysis, computer programming; (8) civic, ethical, and social justice literacy; (9) economic and financial literacy, entrepreneurialism; (10) global awareness, multicultural literacy, humanitarianism; 9110 scientific literacy and reasoning, the scientific method; (12) environmental and conservation literacy ecosystem understanding; and (13) health and wellness literacy, including nutrition, diet, exercise, and public health and safety (http://thoughtfullearning.com.resoures/what-are-21st-century-skills) Framework for 21st Century According to the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, this concept encompasses a wide array of a body of knowledge and skills that have to be categorized. Moreover, this concept has been interconnected with applied skills, cross-curriculum skills, cross-disciplinary skills, interdisciplinary skills, transferable skills, transversal skills. noncognitive skills and soft skills. Framework Credits to Partnership for 21st Century Skill (2010) The 21st Century skills concept is grounded on the belief that students must be educated in a more relevant, useful, in-demand and universally applicable manner. The idea simply leas in the fact that students need to be taught different skills and reflect on the specific demands that will be placed upon them in a complex, competitive, knowledge-based, information-age and technology-driven society. Therefore, 21st Century education addresses the whole child or the whole person (AACTE, 2010). Hence, the curriculum should be designed to be interdisciplinary, integrated and project-based. Tony Wagner (2010), in his book “The Global Achievement Gap”, advocated the seven survival skills namely: (1) critical thinking and problem-solving; (2) collaboration across networks and leading by influence; (3) agility and adaptability; (4) initiative and entrepreneurialism; (5) effective oral and written communication; (6) accessing and analyzing information; and (7) curiosity and imagination. The term “21st Century skills” refers to certain core competencies, such as collaboration, digital literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving that schools need to reach the students for them to thrive in today’s world. The partnership for 21st Century Skills presents the following sets of skills that are categorized accordingly with different strands of expected outcomes. Learning and Innovation Skills These are the primary skills orchestrated in the 21st Century. They are attributes that differentiate students who are prepared for a complex life and work environment from those are not. Therefore, there is a need to stress on creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration in preparing learners for the future. A. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. Theses may include effective analyzing evaluating evidence, arguments, claims and beliefs; and solving different kinds of non-familiar problems in both conventional and innovative ways. Skill 1. Work together effectively in team Sub-skills Establish clear definitions and agreements on the roles of partners in the collaborative process Keep communication open within teams to carry out tasks Carefully identify obstacles and address problems cooperatively https://www.thebalancecareers.com Skill 1. Reason effectively Sub-skills Use various types of reasoning (inductive, deductive, etc.) as appropriate to the situation Use systems thinking Analyze how parts of a whole interact with each other to produce overall outcomes in complex systems Skill 2. Make judgments and decisions Sub-skills Effectively analyze evidence, arguments, claims and beliefs Analyze and evaluate major alternative points of view Synthesize and make connections between information and arguments Interpret information and draw conclusions based on the best analysis Reflect critically on learning experiences and processes (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) Skill 4. Solve problems Sub-skills Solve different kinds of non-familiar problems in both conventional and innovative ways Identify and ask significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) B. Communication. This pertains to articulating thoughts and ideas effectively using oral and written communication skills in a variety of forms and contexts. Skill Sub-skills 1. Communicate Articulate thoughts and ideas effectively using oral, written clearly and nonverbal communication skills in a variety of forms and contexts Listen effectively to decipher meaning, including knowledge, values, attitudes and intentions Use communication for a range of purposes (e.g. to inform, instruct, motivate and persuade) Utilize multiple media and technologies, and judge their effectiveness a priori, as well as assess their impact Communicate effectively in diverse environments (including multi-lingual) Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information Use digital technologies (computers, PDAs, media players, GPS, etc.) communication/networking tools and social networks appropriately to access Exercise flexibility and willingness in making necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal Assume shared responsibility for collaborative work, and value the individual contributions made by each team member (Partnership for 21st Century Skills 2008) C. Collaboration. It entails demonstrating ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams. Kills 1. Work together effectively in team Sub-skills Establish clear definitions and agreements on the roles of partners in the collaborative process Keep communication open within teams to carry out tasks Carefully identify obstacles and address problems cooperatively D. Creativity and Innovation. It denotes use of wide range of idea creation techniques to create and worthwhile ideas. Skill 2. Think creativity Sub-skills Use a wide range of idea creation techniques, such as brainstorming Create new and worthwhile ideas (both incremental and radical concepts) Elaborate, refine, analyze and evaluate their own ideas in order to improve and maximize creative efforts (Partnership for 21st Century Skills 2008) Skill 3. Work creatively with others Sub-skills Develop, implement and communicate new ideas to others effectively Be open and responsive to new and diverse perspectives; incorporate group input and feedback into the work Demonstrate originality and inventiveness in work and understand the real world limits to adopting new ideas View failure as an opportunity to learn; understand that creativity and innovation is a long-term, cyclical process of small successes and mistakes (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) Skill Sub-skills 4. Implement Act creative ideas to make a tangible and useful contribution innovations to the field in which the innovation will occur (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) INFORMATION, MEDIA AND TACHNOLOGY SKILLS People in 21st century live in a technology and media saturated environment marked by the following: (1) access to an abundance of information; (2) rapid changes in technology tools; and (3) the ability to collaborate and make individual contributions on an unprecedented scale. Therefore, to be effective in 21st Century, everyone must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills related to information, media and technology (AACTE, 2010). A. Information Literacy. It refers to accessing and evaluating information critically and competently and managing the flow of information from a wide variety of sources. Skill Sub-skills 1. Access Access information efficiently (time) and effectively ( sources) and Evaluate information critically and competently evaluate information (Partnership for 21st Century Skills 2008) Skill Sub-skills 2. Use and Use information accurately and creatively for the issue or manage problem at hand information Manage the flow of information from a wide variety of sources Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) B. Media Literacy. It underscores understanding both how and why media messages are constructed; creating media products by understanding and utilizing the most appropriate media creation tools, characteristics and conventions. Skill Sub-skills 1. Analyze media Understand both how and why media messages are constructed, and for what purposes Examine how individuals interpret messages differently, how values and points of view are included, and how media can influence beliefs and behaviors Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of media (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) Skill 2. Create media products Sub-skills Understand and utilize the most appropriate media creation tools, characteristics and conventions Understand and effectively utilize the most appropriate expressions and interpretations in diverse, multi-cultural environments (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) C. Technology Literacy. It pertains to the use of technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information. Skill Sub-skills Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information 1. Apply Use digital technologies (computers, PDAs, media players, technology GPS, etc.), communication, networking tools and social effectively networks appropriately to access, manage, integrate, evaluate and create information to successfully function in a knowledge economy Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information technologies (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) D. Life and Career Skills. Today’s life and work environments both require more thinking skills and content knowledge. Cultivating the ability to navigate the complex life requires students to develop the following life and career skills: (1) flexibility and adaptability; (2) initiative and self-direction; (3) social and cross-cultural skills; (4) productivity and accountability; and (5) leadership and responsibility (AACTA, 2010). Flexibility and Adaptability Skill 1. Adapt to change Sub-skills Adapt to varied roles, job responsibilities, schedules and contexts Work effectively in a climate of ambiguity and changing priorities (Partnership for 21st century Skills, 2008) Skill Sub-skills 2. Be flexible Incorporate feedback effectively Deal positively with praise, setbacks and criticism Understand, negotiate and balance diverse views and beliefs to reach workable solutions, particularly in multi-cultural environments (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) INITIATIVE AND SELF-DIRECTION Skill 1. Manage goals and time Sub-skills Set goal with tangible and intangible success criteria Balance tactical (short-term) and strategic (long-term) goals Utilize time and manage workload efficiently (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) Skill Sub-skills 2. Work Monitor, define, prioritize and complete tasks without direct independently oversight (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) Skill Sub-skills 3. Be selfdirected learner Go beyond basic mastery of skills and/or curriculum to explore and expand one’s own learning and opportunities to gain expertise Demonstrate initiative to advance skill levels towards a professional level Demonstrate commitment to learning as a lifeling process Demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior in using influence and power (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) Skill Sub-skills 4. Be Act responsibly with the interest of the larger community in mind responsible Consider others’ ideas and view points to others Look for others’ welfare and safety an all circumstances Assist others in times of their downfalls and setbacks (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) SOCIAL AND CROSS-CULTURAL SKILLS Skill 1. Interact effectively with others Sub-skills Know when it is appropriate to listen and when to speak Conduct one’s self in a respectable, professional manner (Partnership for 21st century Skills, 2008) Skill 2. Work effectively in diverse teams Sub-skills Respect cultural differences and work effectively with people from a range of social and cultural backgrounds Respond open-mindedly to different ideas and values Leverage social and cultural differences to create new ideas and increase both innovation and quality of work (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) PRODUCTIVITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY Skill Sub-skills 1. Manage projects Set meet goals, even in the face of obstacles and competing pressures Prioritize, plan and manage work to achieve the intended result (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) Skill Sub-skills 2. Produce results Demonstrate additional attributes associated with producing high quality products, including the abilities to: - Work positively and ethically - Manage time and projects effectively - Multi-task - Participate actively, as well as be reliable and punctual - Present oneself professionally and with proper etiquette - Collaborate and cooperate effectively with teams - Respect and appreciate team diversity - Be accountable for results (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY Skill Sub-skills 1. Guide and Use interpersonal and problem-solving skills to influence and lead guide others toward a goal others Leverage strengths of others to accomplish a common goal Inspire others to reach their very best via example and selflessness Demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior in using influence and power (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) Skill 2. Be responsible to others Sub-skills Act responsibly with the interests of the larger community mind (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008) Integrating 21st Century skills in Teaching-learning Process The 21st Century support systems. The following elements are the critical systems necessary to ensure students mastery of 21 st Century skills: (1) 21st Century standards; (2) assessments; (3) curriculum and instruction; (40 professional development; and (5) learning environments. Theses must be aligned to produce a support system that produces 21st Century outcomes for today’s students (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2008). 1. 21st Century Standards 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Focus on 21st Century skills, content knowledge and expertise Build understanding across and among core subjects, as well as 21 st century interdisciplinary themes Emphasize deep understanding rather than shallow knowledge Engage students with the real-world date, tools and experts they will encounter in college, on the job, and in life; students learn beast when actively engaged in solving meaningful problems Allow for multiple measures of mastery 2. Assessment of 21st Century Skills 2.1 2.2 2.3 Support a balance of assessments, including high-quality standardized testing along with effective formative and summative classroom assessment Emphasizes useful feedback on student performance that is embedded into every learning Requires a balance of technology-enhanced, formative and summative assessments that measure students mastery of 21st Century skills 2.4 2.5 Enables development of portfolios of students work that demonstrate mastery of 21st Century skills to educators and prospective employers Enables a balanced portfolio of measures to assess the educational system’s effectiveness in reaching high levels of student competency in 21st Century skills (AACTE, 2010) 3. 21st Century Curriculum and Instruction 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Teachers 21st century skills discretely in the context of core subjects and 21st century interdisciplinary themes Focuses on providing opportunities for applying 21 st Century skills across content areas and for a competency-based approach to learning Enables innovative learning methods that integrate the use of supportive technologies, inquiry- and problem-based approaches and higher-order thinking skills Encourages the integration of community resources beyond walls (AACTE, 2010) 4. The 21st Century Professional Development 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Highlights ways teachers can seize opportunities for integrating 21 st century skills, tools and teaching strategies into their classroom practice and help them identify what activities they can replace/deemphasize Balances direct instruction with project-oriented teaching methods Illustrates how a deeper understanding of subject matter can enhance problem solving, critical thinking, and other 21st Century skills Enables 21st Century professional learning communities for teachers that model the kinds of classroom learning that best promotes 21 st Century skills for students Cultivates teachers’ intelligences, strengths and weaknesses Helps teacher develop their to use various strategies (such as formative assessments) to reach diverse students and create environments that support differentiated teaching and learning Supports the continuous evaluation of students’ 21 st Century skills development Encourages knowledge sharing among communities of practitioners using face-to face, virtual and blended communications Uses a scalable and sustainable model of professional development (AACTE,2010) 5. The 21st Century Learning Environments 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Create learning practices, human support and physical environments that will support the teaching and learning of 21st Century skill outcomes Support professional learning communities that enable educators to collaborate, share best practices and integrate 21st Century skills into classroom practice Enable students to learn in relevant, real-world 21st Century context (e.g., through project-based or other applied work) Allow equitable access to quality learning tools, technologies and resources Provide 21st Century architectural and interior designs for group, team and individual learning Support expanded community and international involvement in learning, both face to face and online (AACTE, 2010) Implications to educators The advent of 21st century skill enhancement among learners bring the following implications to educators in: 1. Successfully complementing technologies to content and pedagogy and developing the ability to creatively use technologies to meet specific learning needs 2. Aligning instruction with standards, particularly those that embody 21 st Century knowledge and skills 3. Balancing direct instruction strategically with project-oriented teaching methods 4. Applying child and adolescent development knowledge to educator preparation and education policy 5. Using a range of assessment strategies to evaluate student performance and differentiate instruction (including but not limited to formative, portfolio-based, curriculum-embedded and summative) 6. Participating actively in learning communities, tapping the expertise within a school or school district through coaching, mentoring knowledge-sharing, and team teaching 7. Acting as mentors and peer coaches with fellow educators 8. Using a range of strategies (such as formative assessments) to reach diverse students and to create environments that support differentiated teaching and learning 9. Pursuing continuous learning opportunities and embracing career-long learning as professional ethics (AACTE, 2010) 10. Establishing a conducive learning environment where learners can freely express themselves and explore their potentials and capacities Implications to Pre-service Teacher Preparation There is a need to understand the key elements of optimum curricula that will help-service teachers develop the dispositions, habits of mind and confidence to enable students to develop 21st Century skills in a range of core academic subject areas. Since schools get rid of a one-size-fits-all system, therefore, pre-service teachers are expected to play an active role in developing and organizing content and instruction for their students. AACTE (2010) asserts that a 21st Century approach to curriculum is about more than just adding an extra course or extra class time in the curriculum. Thus, pre-service teachers benefit from the ability to fully explore and understand how to develop and use curriculum for deep understanding and mastery of academic subject knowledge and 21st Century skills. As a starting point, a teacher education program can be aligned with student and teacher standards in ways that blend thinking and innovation skills, ICT literacy; and life and career skills in the context of all academic subjects and across interdisciplinary themes. An effective 21st Century skills approach to curriculum, in order words, is designed for understanding (McTighe and Wiggins, 2005 in AACTE, 2010). The program’s curriculum will be most beneficial to pre-service teachers if it is designed to produce deep understanding and authentic application of 21 st Century skills in all subject areas. Instructional models. Instructional models are an important component of any teacher preparation program. AACTE (2010) pointed out that the integration of innovative and research-proven teaching strategies, modern learning technologies and real-world resources and context are all imperative in: 1. Integrating “teach for understanding” principles. When pre-service teachers can prepare and present lessons that can develop students’ essential concepts and skills with the integration of technologies, the latter can reciprocally demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving in class. 2. Creating rich practice teaching experiences. Strong practice teaching experiences allow pre-service teachers to connect theory and practice. 3. Creating dynamic learning communities and peer mentoring networks. Pre-service teachers benefit greatly from service-learning as part of their experiential learning courses. It provides time to reflect on relevant pedagogic strategies that enhance 21st Century skills in classroom practice. 4. Examining the role of content, pedagogy and technologies in developing higher-order thinking skills. The ability to teach for content mastery is a challenging task for most pre-service teachers. Teaching for content mastery (1) supports a range of high-quality standardized testing along formative and summative assessments; (2) emphasizes useful feedback on student performance; (3) requires balanced technology-enhanced, formative and summative assessments; (4) enables development of students portfolios that demonstrate mastery of 21st Century knowledge and skills; and (5) enable a balanced score card to assess the educational system’s effectiveness. Teacher preparation programs can play a vital role in developing education leaders who understand and can influence current trends in assessment through: (1) research and evaluation test for innovative approaches; (2) 21st Century knowledge and skills assessment strategies; and (3) mastery of a wide range of student assessment methods. Learning environments. The learning environment within the teacher preparation program is a key component of any systematic strategies that can best support 21st century skills acquisition among pre-service teachers is a step towards creating a kind of environment that will promote 21 st Century learning. The following are initiatives in creating 21st Century teacher education learning environment: (1) Establish a 21st Century vision for learning environments in the program and the university; (2) Ensure that the physical infrastructure supports 21 st century knowledge and skills; (3) Practice flexibility in time for project-based work and competency-based assessment; (4) Ensure technical infrastructure that sufficiently supports learning; and (5) strengthen networking engagement in the learning environment. Partnerships. Partnerships are extraordinary important in the work of transforming 21st Century teacher preparation programs. Along the line, teamwork within the program and the institution is imperative for sustainability and development. The partnership forged with community leaders, business industry, professional associations, government agencies, non-government organizations, other institutions, parents, other stakeholders and the community creates high impact outcome. The powerful partnerships are created through strong collaboration towards enabling innovation in the teaching and learning for the 21st Century. Continuous improvement. Continuous improvement represents willingness to commit to revisiting the process over time. For AACTE (2010), any implementation effort should include continuous improvement steps. To wit: (1) Clearly identify measurable goals; (2) Track progress regularly against these goals; (3) Communicate progress to all stakeholders; and (4) engage all participants in refining and improving success over time (AACTE, 2010) SUMMARY THE 21ST CENTURY SKILL CATEGORIES The term century skills refers to a broad set of knowledge, skills, work habits, and character traits that are critically important in today’s world, particularly in collegiate programs and contemporary careers and workplaces. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills encompass a wide-range body of knowledge and skills that are interconnected with applied skills, crosscurricular skills, a cross-disciplinary skills, interdisciplinary skills, transferable skills, transversal skills, noncognitive skills, and soft skills. To succeed in life and in their future career, students must hone and empower themselves with learning and innovation skills, information, media and technology skills, life and career skills, and social and cross-cultural skills. The integration of 21st Century skills must be continuously practiced along standards and assessment, curriculum and instruction, professional development, and learning environments. Considering that teachers are the greatest mobilizers of 21 st Century education, therefore, pre-service teachers must be rigidly trained on these skills to prepare them for their future professional career roles. 21st ASSESSMENT/ENRICHMENT QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 1. Describe the categories of 21st Century skills. 2. How can the attainment of 21st Century skill contribute to the realization of educational goals? 3. How can you prepare, plan and deliver a lesson with an end goal of attaining the 21st Century skills? 4. How can you integrate 21st Century skills in the teaching learning process? 5. What activities can help learners enhance their 21 st Century skills? Direction: Write your own concept of 21st Century Skills in each of the rainbow lines depicted by the categories. Then, on the bow below, write your brief explanation to indicate your clear understanding of this topic. INTROSPECTING Learning Reflection Life and Career Skills Information, Media and Technology Skills Learning Skills 21st Century skills categories My Understanding Direction: Craft a sample of outcomes-based curriculum plan imbued with 21st Century learning outcomes. Use the template sample provided below. Subject Area: Learning Outcome Topic Time TeachingAllotment Learning Activities A. Learning and Innovation Skills Assessment Tasks Materials/Referenc es B. Information, Media and Technology Skills C. Life and Career Skills REFERENCES De Leon, E. (2020). Building and Enhancing New Literacies Across the Curriculum, Lorimar Publishing Inc. Philippines https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/illustration-of-a-target-with-an-arrow-on-a-whitebackground-in-flat-style-gm1129198791-298208537 https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/student_life_images/367/ https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/lecturer-blackboard-with-students-line-iconlecture-or-training-lesson-symbol-gm1214504716-353383962 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Framework-for-21-st-century-student-outcomeand-support-system_fig1_312643725 https://www.deltaxresearch.com/circleflip-portfolio/toa4s-dga-summary-report/ https://webstockreview.net/image/assessment-clipart-clip-art/2663566.html