THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF 21ST CENTURY SKILLS IN EDUCATION
BERNARDO A. GARGABITE
EDUCATION PROGRAM SUPERVISOR 1
The education of today is characterized by so many introductions of “first” in our system. Among these include the universalization of the kindergarten (RA 10157), the K-12 enhanced basic curriculum (RA 10533) and student-centered learning (SCL) to cite a few. But over and above these innovations is the information technology (IT) literacy brought about by the rapid advent of information communication technology (ICT) from the first world countries that practically convert this whole wide world into one small community.
In view of this, let us examine the 21st century skills that was expected from the present craft of our learners, teachers, professionals and to other segments of society in the atmosphere of the cyber world.
These skills incorporates Information Literacy or the ability to evaluate information across a range of media; recognize when information is needed; locate, synthesize, and use information effectively; and accomplish these functions using technology, communication networks, and electronic resources which highlights, acquires and evaluates information. It also uses computers to process information, organizes and maintains information, interprets and communicates information organizes, processes, and maintains written or computerized records and other forms of information in a systematic fashion. Similarly, it selects and analyzes information and communicates the results to others using oral, written, graphic, pictorial, or multi-media methods.
Another is technological literacy with the following components namely effective use of real-world tools orf the the ability to use real-world tools—the hardware, software, networking, and peripheral devices used by information technology (IT) workers to accomplish 21st century work—to communicate, collaborate, solve problems, and accomplish tasks. Another is computing, maintains and troubleshoots technology, selects technology and applies technology. The task is for knowledge to elaborate what technology is, how it works, what purposes it can serve, and how it can be used efficiently and effectively to achieve specific goals.
Moreover is creative thinking skills exercising sound reasoning in understanding and making complex choices, understanding the interconnections among systems, indentifying and asking significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions; reaming, analyzing, and synthesizing information in order to solve problems and answer questions.
In line with it is problem-solving, higher-order thinking and sound reasoning, scientific literacy, creativity , innovation skills, interactive communication thru writing, listening, and speaking. It is the Ability to define problems in complex, overlapping, ill-defined domains; use available tools and expertise for research and analysis; design promising solutions and courses of action; manage the implementations of these solutions (project management); assess the results; and then continuously improve the solutions as conditions change.
Added to it is collaboration skills or the ability to work effectively with diverse teams, be helpful and make necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal. Its components are teaming and collaboration participates as member of a team teaches other and negotiates. Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. That is, students interact, collaborate, publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media; communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats; develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures; contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems.
Likewise, it also includes Cross-cultural skills Working appropriately and productively with others; leveraging the collective intelligence of groups when appropriate; bridging cultural differences and using differing perspectives to increase innovation and the quality of work.
Added to it is global awareness using 21st century skills to understand and address global issues; learning from and working collaboratively with individuals representing diverse cultures, religions and lifestyles in a spirit of mutual respect and open dialogue in personal, work and community contexts; understanding other nations and cultures, including the use of non-English languages. Multi-cultural literacy is also an important aspect which focus on the ability to understand and appreciate the similarities and differences in the customs, values, and beliefs of one's own culture and the cultures of others.
Next is leadership skills in order to communicates ideas to justify position, persuades and convinces others, responsibly challenges existing procedures and policies. There is also a need to assess the needs of others and one’s own ability to assist; use strategies for providing guidance that take into account the goals, task, context, and learning styles of others; arrange opportunities for learning that build on learner’s strengths; seek feedback on the usefulness and results of the assistance. It also utilizes advocacy and influence in order to define what one is trying to achieve; assess interests, resources, and the potential for success; gather facts and supporting information to build a case that takes into account the interests and attitudes of others; present a clear case, using a strategy that takes into account purpose and audience; revise, as necessary, in response to feedback.
Equally important is social skills that demonstrates understanding friendliness, adaptability, empathy, and politeness in new and on-going group settings. Asserts self in familiar and unfamiliar social situations; relates well to others; responds appropriately as the situation requires; and takes an interest in what others say and do.
It is important to resolve conflict and negotiateacknowledge that there is a conflict; identify areas of agreement and disagreement; generate options for resolving conflict that have a “win/win” potential; engage parties in trying to reach agreement on a course of action that can satisfy the needs and interests of all; evaluate results of efforts and revise approach as necessary. With social ability interpersonal skills resolve to conflict and negotiate self-monitoring / self-direction skills is also very relevant with initiative and self-direction career.
Project management skills is another aspect which includes prioritizing, planning, and managing for results. The ability to organize to efficiently achieve the goals of a specific project or problem and managing complexity or the ability to handle multiple goals, tasks, and inputs, while understanding and adhering to constraints of time, resources, and systems. Hence it is characterized by time allocation that selects relevant, goal-related activities, ranks them in order of importance, allocates time to activities, and understands, prepares, and follows schedules.
It also allocates material and facility resources acquires, stores, and distributes materials, supplies, parts, equipment, space, or final products in order to make the best use of them. Together with it is to allocates money or uses or prepares budgets, including making cost and revenue forecasts, keeps detailed records to track budget performance, and makes appropriate adjustments. Coupled to it is to allocate human resources, assesses knowledge and skills and distributes work accordingly, evaluates performance, and provides feedback.
Equally relevant is to set and prioritize goals; develop an organized approach of activities and objectives; actively carry out the plan; monitor the plan’s progress while considering any need to adjust the plan; evaluate its effectiveness in achieving the goals
Ethics / civic responsibility skills includes personal responsibility, depth and currency of knowledge about legal and ethical issues related to technology, combined with one's ability to apply this knowledge to achieve balance, integrity, and quality of life as a citizen, a family and community member, a learner, and a worker. Civic responsibility
pertains to the ability to manage technology and govern its use in a way that promotes public good and protects society, the environment, and democratic ideals.
Ethics / civic responsibility" is represented in the following component\namely integrity/ honesty can be trusted; recognizes when faced with making a decision or exhibiting behavior that may break with commonly held personal or societal values; understands the impact of violating these beliefs and codes on an organization, self, and others; and chooses an ethical course of action.
Further, students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. That is, students advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology; exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity; demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning; and exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
Accountability skills includes productivity and accountability, responsibility precision and accuracy which focuses on setting and meeting high standards and goals for delivering quality work on time; demonstrating diligence and a positive work ethic (e.g., being punctual and reliable). It also displays high standards of attendance punctuality, enthusiasm, vitality, and optimism in approaching and completing tasks. The student knows what type of precision is appropriate to the task and is able to increase precision and accuracy through successive approximations generated from a task or process that is repeated. Working to attain the highest possible standards; reviewing criteria one is to employ and confirming that the finish product matches that criteria exactly; valuing excellence over expedience.
Other skills represented in 21st century includes Flexibility and Adaptability
Adapting to varied roles and responsibilities; working effectively in a climate of ambiguity and changing priorities. Another is health literacy through obtaining, interpreting and understanding basic health information and services and using such information and services in ways that are health enhancing; understanding preventive physical and mental health measures; using available information to make appropriate health-related decisions; establishing and monitoring personal and family health goals; Understanding national and international public health and safety issues.
Another is financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy knowing how to make appropriate personal economic choices; understanding the role of the economy in society; using entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career options.
Other 21st Century Skills also adaptability or the the ability to modify one's thinking, attitude, or behavior to be better suited to the environment. Risk taking the willingness to make mistakes, advocate unconventional or unpopular positions, or tackle extremely challenging problems without obvious solutions, such that one's personal growth, integrity, or accomplishments are enhanced.
Another is curiosity or the desire to know or the spark of interest that leads to inquiry. ability to produce relevant, high-quality products the ability to produce intellectual, informational, or material products that serve authentic purposes and occur as a result of students using real-world tools to solve or communicate about real-world problems. Economic literacy the ability to identify economic problems, alternatives, costs, and benefits; analyze the incentives at work in economic situations; examine the consequences of changes in economic conditions and public policies.
Other skills represented in this framework includes: self-esteem or belief in own self-worth and maintains a positive view of self, knowing how to learn, recognizes and can use learning techniques to apply and adapt new knowledge and skills in both familiar and changing situations, mental visualization seeing things in the mind's eye; organizes and processes symbols, pictures, graphs, objects or other information. Serves clients/customers works to satisfy customers' expectations.
Understands systems know how social, organizational, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them. Monitors and corrects (system) performance
distinguishes trends, predicts impact of actions on system operations, diagnoses deviations in the function of a system and takes necessary action. Improves and designs systems makes suggestions to modify existing systems to improve products or services, and develops new or alternative systems.
BERNARDO A. GARGABITE
EDUCATION PROGRAM SUPERVISOR 1
The education of today is characterized by so many introductions of “first” in our system. Among these include the universalization of the kindergarten (RA 10157), the K-12 enhanced basic curriculum (RA 10533) and student-centered learning (SCL) to cite a few. But over and above these innovations is the information technology (IT) literacy brought about by the rapid advent of information communication technology (ICT) from the first world countries that practically convert this whole wide world into one small community.
In view of this, let us examine the 21st century skills that was expected from the present craft of our learners, teachers, professionals and to other segments of society in the atmosphere of the cyber world.
These skills incorporates Information Literacy or the ability to evaluate information across a range of media; recognize when information is needed; locate, synthesize, and use information effectively; and accomplish these functions using technology, communication networks, and electronic resources which highlights, acquires and evaluates information. It also uses computers to process information, organizes and maintains information, interprets and communicates information organizes, processes, and maintains written or computerized records and other forms of information in a systematic fashion. Similarly, it selects and analyzes information and communicates the results to others using oral, written, graphic, pictorial, or multi-media methods.
Another is technological literacy with the following components namely effective use of real-world tools orf the the ability to use real-world tools—the hardware, software, networking, and peripheral devices used by information technology (IT) workers to accomplish 21st century work—to communicate, collaborate, solve problems, and accomplish tasks. Another is computing, maintains and troubleshoots technology, selects technology and applies technology. The task is for knowledge to elaborate what technology is, how it works, what purposes it can serve, and how it can be used efficiently and effectively to achieve specific goals.
Moreover is creative thinking skills exercising sound reasoning in understanding and making complex choices, understanding the interconnections among systems, indentifying and asking significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions; reaming, analyzing, and synthesizing information in order to solve problems and answer questions.
In line with it is problem-solving, higher-order thinking and sound reasoning, scientific literacy, creativity , innovation skills, interactive communication thru writing, listening, and speaking. It is the Ability to define problems in complex, overlapping, ill-defined domains; use available tools and expertise for research and analysis; design promising solutions and courses of action; manage the implementations of these solutions (project management); assess the results; and then continuously improve the solutions as conditions change.
Added to it is collaboration skills or the ability to work effectively with diverse teams, be helpful and make necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal. Its components are teaming and collaboration participates as member of a team teaches other and negotiates. Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. That is, students interact, collaborate, publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media; communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats; develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures; contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems.
Likewise, it also includes Cross-cultural skills Working appropriately and productively with others; leveraging the collective intelligence of groups when appropriate; bridging cultural differences and using differing perspectives to increase innovation and the quality of work.
Added to it is global awareness using 21st century skills to understand and address global issues; learning from and working collaboratively with individuals representing diverse cultures, religions and lifestyles in a spirit of mutual respect and open dialogue in personal, work and community contexts; understanding other nations and cultures, including the use of non-English languages. Multi-cultural literacy is also an important aspect which focus on the ability to understand and appreciate the similarities and differences in the customs, values, and beliefs of one's own culture and the cultures of others.
Next is leadership skills in order to communicates ideas to justify position, persuades and convinces others, responsibly challenges existing procedures and policies. There is also a need to assess the needs of others and one’s own ability to assist; use strategies for providing guidance that take into account the goals, task, context, and learning styles of others; arrange opportunities for learning that build on learner’s strengths; seek feedback on the usefulness and results of the assistance. It also utilizes advocacy and influence in order to define what one is trying to achieve; assess interests, resources, and the potential for success; gather facts and supporting information to build a case that takes into account the interests and attitudes of others; present a clear case, using a strategy that takes into account purpose and audience; revise, as necessary, in response to feedback.
Equally important is social skills that demonstrates understanding friendliness, adaptability, empathy, and politeness in new and on-going group settings. Asserts self in familiar and unfamiliar social situations; relates well to others; responds appropriately as the situation requires; and takes an interest in what others say and do.
It is important to resolve conflict and negotiateacknowledge that there is a conflict; identify areas of agreement and disagreement; generate options for resolving conflict that have a “win/win” potential; engage parties in trying to reach agreement on a course of action that can satisfy the needs and interests of all; evaluate results of efforts and revise approach as necessary. With social ability interpersonal skills resolve to conflict and negotiate self-monitoring / self-direction skills is also very relevant with initiative and self-direction career.
Project management skills is another aspect which includes prioritizing, planning, and managing for results. The ability to organize to efficiently achieve the goals of a specific project or problem and managing complexity or the ability to handle multiple goals, tasks, and inputs, while understanding and adhering to constraints of time, resources, and systems. Hence it is characterized by time allocation that selects relevant, goal-related activities, ranks them in order of importance, allocates time to activities, and understands, prepares, and follows schedules.
It also allocates material and facility resources acquires, stores, and distributes materials, supplies, parts, equipment, space, or final products in order to make the best use of them. Together with it is to allocates money or uses or prepares budgets, including making cost and revenue forecasts, keeps detailed records to track budget performance, and makes appropriate adjustments. Coupled to it is to allocate human resources, assesses knowledge and skills and distributes work accordingly, evaluates performance, and provides feedback.
Equally relevant is to set and prioritize goals; develop an organized approach of activities and objectives; actively carry out the plan; monitor the plan’s progress while considering any need to adjust the plan; evaluate its effectiveness in achieving the goals
Ethics / civic responsibility skills includes personal responsibility, depth and currency of knowledge about legal and ethical issues related to technology, combined with one's ability to apply this knowledge to achieve balance, integrity, and quality of life as a citizen, a family and community member, a learner, and a worker. Civic responsibility
pertains to the ability to manage technology and govern its use in a way that promotes public good and protects society, the environment, and democratic ideals.
Ethics / civic responsibility" is represented in the following component\namely integrity/ honesty can be trusted; recognizes when faced with making a decision or exhibiting behavior that may break with commonly held personal or societal values; understands the impact of violating these beliefs and codes on an organization, self, and others; and chooses an ethical course of action.
Further, students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. That is, students advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology; exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity; demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning; and exhibit leadership for digital citizenship
Accountability skills includes productivity and accountability, responsibility precision and accuracy which focuses on setting and meeting high standards and goals for delivering quality work on time; demonstrating diligence and a positive work ethic (e.g., being punctual and reliable). It also displays high standards of attendance punctuality, enthusiasm, vitality, and optimism in approaching and completing tasks. The student knows what type of precision is appropriate to the task and is able to increase precision and accuracy through successive approximations generated from a task or process that is repeated. Working to attain the highest possible standards; reviewing criteria one is to employ and confirming that the finish product matches that criteria exactly; valuing excellence over expedience.
Other skills represented in 21st century includes Flexibility and Adaptability
Adapting to varied roles and responsibilities; working effectively in a climate of ambiguity and changing priorities. Another is health literacy through obtaining, interpreting and understanding basic health information and services and using such information and services in ways that are health enhancing; understanding preventive physical and mental health measures; using available information to make appropriate health-related decisions; establishing and monitoring personal and family health goals; Understanding national and international public health and safety issues.
Another is financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy knowing how to make appropriate personal economic choices; understanding the role of the economy in society; using entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career options.
Other 21st Century Skills also adaptability or the the ability to modify one's thinking, attitude, or behavior to be better suited to the environment. Risk taking the willingness to make mistakes, advocate unconventional or unpopular positions, or tackle extremely challenging problems without obvious solutions, such that one's personal growth, integrity, or accomplishments are enhanced.
Another is curiosity or the desire to know or the spark of interest that leads to inquiry. ability to produce relevant, high-quality products the ability to produce intellectual, informational, or material products that serve authentic purposes and occur as a result of students using real-world tools to solve or communicate about real-world problems. Economic literacy the ability to identify economic problems, alternatives, costs, and benefits; analyze the incentives at work in economic situations; examine the consequences of changes in economic conditions and public policies.
Other skills represented in this framework includes: self-esteem or belief in own self-worth and maintains a positive view of self, knowing how to learn, recognizes and can use learning techniques to apply and adapt new knowledge and skills in both familiar and changing situations, mental visualization seeing things in the mind's eye; organizes and processes symbols, pictures, graphs, objects or other information. Serves clients/customers works to satisfy customers' expectations.
Understands systems know how social, organizational, and technological systems work and operates effectively within them. Monitors and corrects (system) performance
distinguishes trends, predicts impact of actions on system operations, diagnoses deviations in the function of a system and takes necessary action. Improves and designs systems makes suggestions to modify existing systems to improve products or services, and develops new or alternative systems.