How To Improve 21st Century Skills

On the other hand, educators and workforce experts alike often warn that our students need improved 21st century skills. Without these skills, they will not be able to successfully participate in the global economy. They won’t be adequately prepared for college and work. The following list provides a brief illustrative overview of the knowledge, skills, work habits, and character traits commonly associated with 21st century skills: 1. Critical thinking, problem solving, 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,

Although the upshot is that traditional educational approaches are insufficient in delivering such demanding agenda (Dumont, Istance, Benavides, Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, & Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2010, p. 3, 13). In most countries all curriculums are under continuous development, adopting ICTs in teaching and learning (Elissavet & Economides, 2003). In the advent of the 21st century, technology is becoming more and more predominant across the higher education landscape. Generally, colleges and universities have been quickly adopting new technologies in which some technologies have become permanent parts of the higher education enterprise (“Technology in Education - Higher Education,” n.d.). Schools should prepare students to use actively new information and communication technologies (ICTs) taking advantage of the lifelong learning process that these technologies support. The 21st century learner cannot go without the use of technology in their education life, especially when doing mathematics, without the use of technology; they will be way behind with the standard the world is moving towards. According to Dumont, Istance, Benavides, Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, & Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

Advances in technology have brought instructional materials – especially the projected and electronic materials to the forefront as the most radical tools of attaining 21st century skills, globalization and social development, which have affected the classroom teaching learning situation positively (Apondi, 2015). In the same vein, Ghavifekr & Rosdy, (2015) conveyed that Integration of Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) assists teachers to the global requirement to shift from traditional teaching methods with a technology-based teaching and learning tools and facilities As McDonald (2013) emphasized, teachers and educators should capitalize on this trend and should make use of technology for inducing an attitude change in the students which directing towards their study habits and intellectual growth. However, just adding a technology tool to a traditional teaching has not produced more effective instruction and doesn't provide much benefit. For effective use of technology in the classroom, teachers have to use it in a way; students are involved in the activity. Besides, as technology assists the teachers to make their teaching materials they get less reluctant to utilize technology (Sabzian, Gilakjani, Sodouri, 2013). Thus, becoming responsive to the demands of the 21st century learning, teachers should incorporate technology in the development of instructional