When we hear about 21st-century skills, we can only think the skills required in the future. We often get confused as educators when we talk about ‘future-ready’. Some educators think being future-ready means that the past has no more extended value.
Ayrin Islam, CEO of ringID, said: “It is necessary to incorporate, innovative, and collaborative problem-solving abilities for the new generation to be more equipped for the future, rather than educating them with achievements of the past. There are a lot of educators who are aware of the ‘uncertain future’, and claim that the existing education system is outdated in schools and other institutions.”
According to the US Department of Labour, 65% of today’s school children will be employed in jobs that still don’t exist. They have put a high emphasis on the rule of technology, which helps students to prepare for a world and a workforce that we cannot predict. Moreover, preparing for the future puts a significant pressure on educators, as well as students. These 21st-century skills which must be highly-emphasized in the curriculum include critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, curiosity, imagination, innovation, self-direction, self-discipline, adaptability, leadership, collaboration, and cooperation, among others. These have all been identified as the most relevant, in-demand skills of today.
These skills have also been described as different compared to those learned by students in the 20th century. We live in a technology-driven economy and society. We will always have the task to prepare the generation for the uncertain. The only thing we should worry about is to lose these skills while applying it intensely. We have the tendency to be preoccupied with the superficiality of technology to a level that it steals us from the ability to lead, imagine, and create, and more importantly the need for us to perform as beings capable of performing unique thinking.
I asked my students about their opinion on 21st-century skills, almost all of them said that coding is one of the future jobs. When asked about what they think could be a ‘lost skill’ in the future, I was surprised that they answered ‘creativity’ will be missed in the process. Imagining a heavily driven technology curriculum in the future, my students said: “We would not be creative!”
The real question is: “Which of the 21st-century skills were not fully embedded, when Einstein led his legacy in physics a century ago?”
I would call the 21st-century skill a human skill. Human skill is the primary drive for us to explore, learn, and grow. Furthermore, missing skills are also crucial. Teachers should always emphasize the importance of human interaction, feelings, and communication. Students are growing in a bubble that protects them from facing the disappointment and taste failure. The new generation started to withdraw from the scent of reality, to a virtual world in all of the technology they are surrounded by. A robot, a machine, or a software is just our creation, not a replacement. These are tools to be used, and not meant to change the shape of our life.
Manal Alhabbal obtained her BA in Arabic Literature from Damascus University and moved to London in 2003. She also received her Post- Graduate degree in Community Languages from Goldsmiths University, London during this time. Manal began her adventure in teaching Arabic to secondary students. After delivering GCSE and A Level, Manal took the opportunity to teach IB at the prestigious King Fahad Academy in London.
In addition, she was employed as a language consultant working for Cambridge University for six years, and also had a great experience writing exam papers for Cambridge International Examination Board CIE.
In 2011, Manal moved to the sunny shores of Dubai to work at the Jumeirah English Speaking School, Arabian Ranches, and currently holds the post Head of Arabic and Islamic Education at Jebel Ali School.
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The author has shown a high understanding of the education system and her knowledge reflects her profession in her teaching. Wish her a successful career.
By Wafa Said (Mar, 2018) |
I believe that it is what you have mentioned and that we shouldn’t be driven by technology and forget the real skills as humans. Creativity, problem solving and innovation doesn’t have to be through technology. We must teach our students these real skills with or without technology.
By Nadine Ramadan (Mar, 2018) |
A very good and timely view. The one think I would say was when I asked the students who said coding must could not explain what is was and skills required. Strangely when we had an innovative week they talked about creativity. But many teachers give contradictory views at CPD sessions about 21st century skills for the future.
By Lorcan Byrne (Mar, 2018) |
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The author touched upon two important aspects schools fail to address; they are the mental and emotional skills required to be successful in real life. Being a GM and An MBA trainer , I found out many peaople fail to communicate positively , think objectively and maintain good relation. This is not about Math nor science , this is about other skills and intelligences we should train our students upon.
By Dr Mohamed Abdulkader Mahmoud (Sep, 2018) |