In a fast-changing, dynamic and hyper-connected world, what abilities will your learners need to have most?
“For the past century, schooling has largely been contained within classroom and school walls, and students who graduate have acquired great skills in conforming to the learning expectations defined by others: doing what they have been instructed to do. But today, when those students go into the workplace and the wider world, they are suddenly confronted with the expectation that they need to do very complex things without any instructions. Schooling today thus fails to fully prepare our young people for their futures” (Fullan & Langworthy, 2014, p. 35).
In response to this recognition, the Ministry of Education here in Ontario produced a document outlining the 21st Century Competencies today’s students will need for a complex global tomorrow.
These competencies are:
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
What this looks like:
- Solving meaningful, real-life, complex problems
- Taking concrete steps to address issues
- Designing and managing projects
- Acquiring, processing, interpreting, and analyzing information to make informed decisions (critical digital literacy)
- Engaging in an inquiry process to solve problems
- Making connections and transfers learning from one situation to another
2. Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship
What this looks like:
- Contributing solutions to complex problems
- Enhancing a concept, idea, or product
- Taking risks in thinking and creating
- Making discoveries through inquiry research
- Pursuing new ideas to meet a need of a community
- Leading and motivating with an ethical entrepreneurial spirit
3. Learning to Learn (Self-Awareness and Self-Directed Learning)
What this looks like:
- Learning the process of learning (metacognition)
- Believing in the ability to learn and grow (having a growth mindset)
- Persevering and overcoming challenges to reach a goal
- Self-regulating in order to become a lifelong learner
- Reflecting on experience to enhance learning
- Cultivating emotional intelligence to understand self and others
- Adapting to change and showing resilience to adversity
- Managing various aspects of life — physical, emotional (relationships, self-awareness), spiritual, and mental well-being
4. Collaboration
What this looks like:
- Participating in teams; establishing positive relationships
- Learning from, and contributing to, the learning of others
- Co-constructing knowledge, meaning, and content
- Assuming various roles on the team
- Managing conflict
- Networking with a variety of communities and groups
- Respecting a diversity of perspectives
5. Communication
What this looks like:
- Communicating effectively in different contents in oral and written forms
- Asking effective questions to acquire knowledge
- Communicating using a variety of media
- Selecting appropriate digital tools according to purpose
- Listening to understand all points of view
- Gaining knowledge about a variety of languages
- Voicing opinions and advocating for ideas
6. Global Citizenship
What this looks like:
- Contributing to society and the culture of the local, global, and digital community in a responsible, accountable, and ethical manner
- Engaging in local and global initiatives to make a difference
- Learning from and with diverse people
- Interacting safely and responsibly within a variety of communities
- Creating a positive digital footprint
- Relating to the environment and being mindful of the importance of all living things
Source: 21st Century Competencies (Ontario Ministry of Education, p. 56)
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