The Critical Attributes of 21st Century Education

The world of teachers and students is expected to continue to change dramatically throughout the 21st
century and beyond. There is a paradigm shift in the way teaching and learning is delivered. As a 21st
century teacher, you need to develop essential knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to be able to
cope with these changes and to help your students address them as well.

These critical attributes are shown in the figure below.

1. Integrated and Interdisciplinary

Nowadays, knowledge is no longer distinctly divided into clear-cut learning chunks or separate subjects.
Education in the 21st century is characterized by linkages among various subject areas in an integrated
manner. The new approach promotes the utilization of learning from various disciplines.

This critical attribute implies that teachers need to review the school curriculum and identify strategies or
ways on how different subjects can be effectively linked to enhance the learning experiences of students.

For example, music and algebra can be linked together in the discussion of fractions. The time signature
of music uses fractions; as such, you, as a good teacher, can certainly apply this to both your music or
math classes.
2. Technologies and Multimedia

Education in the 21st century makes full use of available Information and Communication Technology, or
ICT (e.g., computers and the inter- net) as well as multimedia (e.g., using audio- and video-based
instruction) to improve teaching and learning activities. The ability to find, evaluate, utilize, and create
information using technologies and multi- media, or digital technology in general, is referred to as digital
literacy. As a teacher, some of your day-to-day activities – writing reports, creating multimedia
presentations, and communicating or exchanging information with your colleagues and students online –
require different levels of digital literacy. As such, it is important for you to develop your digital literacy
skills so that you can in turn pass these on to your learners.

This critical attribute implies that your school will need to acquire and use computers and various
multimedia equipment to enhance learning to the best extent possible. Training is also needed for
teacher-users as part of a bigger “technology plan.”

3. Global Classrooms

Education in the 21st century aims to produce global citizens by exposing students to the concerns of the
region and other countries. They are encouraged to react and respond to issues as part of their roles as
global citizens.

This critical attribute implies that teachers need to include current global issues/concerns, such as peace
and respect for cultural diversity, climate change, and global warming, in classroom discussions.

4. Creating/Adapting to Constant Personal and Social Change, and Lifelong Learning

Education in the 21st century subscribes to the belief that learning does not only happen inside the school
and during one’s schooling years. Learning can take place anywhere, anytime, regardless of one’s age.

This means that teachers should facilitate students’ acquisition of KSAVs that go beyond academics.
Learning should take place not only for the purpose of passing exams, but also for transferring knowledge
to real life situations. The curriculum should be planned in such a way that the students will continue to
learn even outside the school’s portals.

5. Student-Centered

Education in the 21st century is focused on students as learners. It is tailor-fit to address the individual
learning needs of each student Differentiated instruction is common in 21st century classrooms, where
diverse student factors are taken into account when planning and delivering instruction. You, as a teacher,
can structure learning environments that address the variety of learning styles, interests, needs, and
abilities found in your classroom

This critical attribute implies that teachers should act as facilitators of learning — not as “sages on the
stage” but as “guides on the side.” Learners should be given opportunities to discover new knowledge,
learn with one another, and create their own learnings.

6. 21st Century Skills

Education in the 21st century promotes the skills needed to be productive members of today’s society. It
is not enough for students to learn the basic skills of reading, writing, and numeracy, but should develop
in themselves skills that would help them cope with life and work in 21st century communities. These
skills include, among others, critical and creative thinking skills, problem solving and decision making, and
ICT literacy and skills. As a teacher, you are expected to possess these 21st century skills before you can
help your students develop these skills.

7. Project-Based and Research-Driven

Among the critical attributes of 21st century education is the emphasis on data, information, and
evidence-based decision making. It relies heavily on student-driven activities to encourage active learning.
This implies that teachers of the 21st century need to be knowledgeable about research to guide their
students’ learning through self-directed activities, such as learning projects within and outside their
classrooms. Investigatory projects showcased in many science fairs across Southeast Asia and in the world
are examples of research-based activities of students.

8. Relevant, Rigorous and Real-world

Education in the 21st century is meaningful because it is rooted in real life day-to-day activities of learners.
It can be applied to the realities of the present and includes what students need to develop to enable
them to become productive members of the 21st century.

This critical attribute implies that topics are taught using current and relevant information and linked to
real-life situations and context. As a 21st century teacher, you need to be updated on the current trends,
developments, and issues in your school, community, and in the world, so that your teaching will be
relevant to the lives of your students. Newspapers, TV and radio news, and the internet are good sources
of relevant and up-to-date information that you can access.

Reference:

SEAMEO Innotech 21st Century Literacy Module, 2018.