Top 4 Approaches in Teaching 21st Century Learners
All children studying today belong to 21st Century learning. However, due to the lack of resources and implementation at schools, not all of them receive the best learning experience. So, as teachers and parents, how would you ensure that your students really are equipped with 21st Century education?
You are about to discover the ways of ensuring a quality learning style and approach through this page. But then, let’s first see the difference between the old and new curriculum and identify which one you prefer.
What is the difference between traditional learning and 21st Century learning?
The 21st Century learning system is newer than traditional education. However, it does not remove the quality of the old curriculum as it only improves its teaching and learning styles. How?
Students sit quietly at their desks in the traditional education system, listening to the teacher whilst writing the lecture on the blackboard. The teacher provides all the information as the students must absorb everything. Afterwards, they take a quiz from the lesson as an assessment of what they have learned.
The old curriculum assessments are more traditional. They only use paper-test exams where the students just memorise the concepts and definitions. Then, they can get A+ scores without any other types of assessments and examinations.
This approach is very different from today’s 21st-century learning system. The students receive practical and useful lessons on skills such as creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. The curriculum also involves a variety of activities allowing the students to participate. As a result, the product of 21st-century learners is more globally competitive and dynamic.
So, how are you going to prepare these students to become 21st Century learners? What changes do you need to take to provide a modern yet effective curriculum for your schools? Here’s what you can do.
How to teach 21st-century learners?
#1 Introduce student-centred teaching and learning instruction
Unlike the traditional teaching style, 21st Century education should focus on a student-centred classroom. This kind of teaching and learning instruction allows students to engage with the environment instead of just sitting and listening.
Moreover, it debunks the idea that the teacher is the foundation of learning. So, in a student-centred classroom, you should let your students share ideas, ask questions, and answer independently. They can also lead and participate in various activities and classroom challenges.
In this case, teachers are just facilitators whilst the students are the main highlight in the classroom. To point it out further, the students are not just the audience but rather the main presenters. So, let them get up from their seats and do some learning activities!
#2 Add collaborative tasks and activities
Instead of giving individual instructions to the students, 21st Century education encourages teachers to give dual or group works. You may arrange these learners into groups to connect with other students. Through this, students will become comfortable working with people with other cultures, traditions, or beliefs.
Aside from that, you can also do performance tasks, DIY, and project-based activities. Through these activities, the students will discover their talents and strengths and even showcase them to the whole class. It will help them increase their self-esteem as they know where they are excelling.
So, teachers and school administrators may include fun and engaging activities to promote collaborative learning. As a result, students will know how to handle themselves individually or in teams.
#3 Implement context learning
Students in the 21st Century education are getting prepared for jobs and careers. They are not just receiving ideas but the skills needed for the future. So, teachers and parents should see the importance of highlighting context rather than just knowledge.
In this case, the lessons should focus on training and practical lessons to build general skills. Students do not need to memorise the lectures, but they must know how to solve things correctly from the knowledge they learned.
The assessments for these lessons are not only paper-test exams or recitation. Teachers will use practical examinations that would prove the capabilities of students in applying their knowledge to any situation. It includes lab challenges, experiments, and other performing activities depending on the subjects.
Most importantly, teachers and schools should ensure that students become motivated by the lesson and training. It will boost their inspiration to become lifelong learners and get prepared for all circumstances in their adult life.
#4 Integrate technology, society, and real-life situations
The most significant difference between traditional and new curriculum is the use of technology. Before, schools lacked resources. But today, they require technology as their instructional aid.
You are not limited to use books, modules, or lecture notes. So, you can utilise laptops, computers, tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices to add images, videos, and audio recordings to the lessons. Moreover, you can include technology toys, robots, tools, and other materials that students can manipulate during the class.
Through this, they would be able to experience the skills first-hand instead of just narrating the lessons. As a matter of fact, students would capture the lesson faster and more effectively if they tried it on their own. It is what you call “learning by doing.”
Besides that, teachers may also include society’s needs to shake up the minds of the learners. It will inspire them to study harder and contribute to solving social problems. Furthermore, they will also have the opportunity to apply things in real-life situations.
So, teachers and school administrators must enable learners to try something new using all possible resources they can provide. Eventually, this learning would train them on making an impact on society and the world.
Why should school keep up with the new system?
You, as the teacher or as a parent, must consider adapting to the new system. This gives your kids a chance to be globally competitive and individually prepared for any careers. It would also align them to the track they are about to pursue as you help them discover it through the 21st Century education system.
Wouldn’t you want them to upgrade their learning experience from old to elevated 21st Century teaching approaches?
How to transition from the old to the new curriculum?
Schools may start with adding a program featuring a project-based and 21st-century education system.
It is known as the Skill Samurai located in Sydney, Australia, is a STEM-accredited franchise school that offers varieties of STEM activities and challenges that would sharpen students skills to prepare them for the future.
At Skill Samurai, your students would enjoy fun and exciting learning experiences featuring the 21st Century learning approaches. It includes code learning for kids, robotics classes for kids, math tutoring, and even game development. Skill Samurai kid coding school curriculum is designed to prepare learners to become career-ready individuals.
How would you add their curriculum? Schedule a call with an Educational specialist today to see how to improve your schools’ teaching approaches. Get started now.