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.
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.