DESIGN THINKING IN K-3 SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

TEACHING
21st Century Learning Skills
and Generation Z
Three questions we will answer in this talk:

1. Who are Generation Z (Gen Z)?

2. What are 21st Century skills?

3. How do we put (1) and (2) together?

 CHARACTERISTICS OF GEN Z LEARNERS
1. Digital Natives - they know little of the world before
smart phones…
2. Social/Collaborative - they are more connected
than previous generations…
3. Wants Immediate Feedback – don’t have enough
patience to wait…
4. Prone to Mental Health Issues – researches indicated
academic pressure and lack of adequate sleep
were potential contributing factors…
“From Pa woke to Woke Profiling the Filipino Gen Z”
A paper submitted to the Dept. of Anthropology, UP under Dr. C. Cabalza

Experts opined that Gen Zs will change the future of

education. With their ability to discover, to educate themselves
and to process a lot of information in a short span of time,
educators will be challenged to revisit their styles, their
methods, and their platforms. Upgraded skills, relevant
knowledge, and competencies are implicit commands of the
21st-centuryclassroom. The educational sector needs to comply
with the demands for the next echelon of learning innovation. (P.
Fermin, personal conversation, July 2019)
21 CENTURY SKILLS
st
(by Bri Stauffer, aeseducation.com)

teaches students about the mental processes required to

adapt and improve upon a modern work environment.
focuses on how students can discern facts, publishing
outlets, and the technology behind them
take a look at intangible elements of a student’s
everyday life
Gen Z Learner
1. Digital Natives
(learning and literacy
skills involving technology)
2. Social/Collaborative
(learning and life skills)
Some Ways to Adapt for the
Teacher
1. Use educational software;
Use visuals;
Provide reasons why a
lesson is important
2. Encourage informal group
learning;
Include experiential
learning
Gen Z Learner Some Ways to Adapt for the
Teacher
3. Wants immediate 3. Set boundaries;
feedback Rationalize delayed
(life skills) feedback

4. Prone to mental health 4. Be mindful of your

issues activities;
(learning and life skills) Design activities that
support emotional learning
From: DepED K-12 Curriculum Guide
(Mathematics)
The learner demonstrates understanding and
appreciation of key concepts and skills involving…
(math concepts/contents) …as applied - using
appropriate technology - in critical thinking, problem
solving, reasoning, communicating, making
connections, representations, and decisions in real
life.
“K-3 are Gen Z learners and in the future will be using
certain words we won’t understand, use technology
that was never yet invented, and work on jobs that we
never heard of. That’s what we are preparing our Gen
Z, a future we never know.”
–anonymous-
“Dios Mabalos”