What is 21st Century Learning?  This is an ongoing discussion, but generally the main characteristics of learning and teaching 21st century skills are:

Collaboration

Students work in groups and learn to collaborate on projects.

Digital Literacy

Students become proficient with technology and how to use the myriad resources available on the Internet.  Students are free to use a variety of tools to find answers to problems and also have the freedom to use different types of media to present their solutions: writing, presentations, audio, and video are all available to them.

Real-World Problem-Solving Skills

Students learn to apply what they’ve learned to practical, real-life problems.  Our Project-Based Learning class is an implementation of this.

Straw bridge
Our 4th graders are learning great things in science! They built three-dimensional model bridges that span a distance of 25 cm, then tested them using a cup of pennies in the middle of the span. Then they compared and contrasted their models to real bridges.
Students using a laptop
Students use a laptop to design their project for PBL.

Critical Thinking

Students don’t merely memorize and repeat information, they analyze and apply it to specific situations.

Teacher as Facilitator

The Student takes on the responsibility for learning with the teacher as the guide and facilitator. No longer is the teacher a lecturer and sole source of information that the student memorizes and repeats. An example of this mode of learning is called “flipping the classroom” where the teacher assigns work to be done the night before class and then class time is given to the students presenting what they have learned. The old adage “you don’t know something until you have to teach it” applies here.Your Text Here

Creative Expression and Open Inquiry

Students are allowed to be creative in how they learn (some learn best by reading, other’s by watching videos, others by talking things out), find solutions to problems, and how they present their findings.