Unit 1: Introduction of Key Concepts

Lesson 3: Critical Attributes of the 21st Century Education

I. UNIT 1: Introduction of Key Concepts II LESSON 3: Critical

Attributes of the 21st Century Education III. DURATION: 3 hours

IV. INTRODUCTION:

A 21st-century education is about giving students the skills they need to succeed in
this new world, considering the new normal that we are all living today, and helping
them grow the certainty to practice those skills they learned. With so much
information readily available, 21st-century skills focus more on making sense of that
information, sharing, and using it in creative ways.
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, we need to develop
essential knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to be able to cope with these
changes and to help the students address them as well.
Conceivably we may have mentioned that the curriculum of the 21 st-century is
different from that of earlier decades. Teaching strategies may have also come up in
the discussion about changes in 21st-century education. These are but some of the
changes and characteristics of 21st-century education that teachers and students
face today and in the future. Educators have identified factors or attributes critical to
21st education. As modern-day teachers, we need to be aware. We must strive to
understand the essential attributes of 21 st-century education so that we may be able
to integrate them in the teaching and learning process.

V. OBJECTIVES:

At the end of this lesson, students are expected to:

1. enumerate the critical attributes of 21st-century education;
2. explain the critical attributes of 21st-century education; and
3. organize teaching and learning activities in connection with the critical
attributes of 21st-century education.

VI. LESSON PROPER:

ACTIVITY:

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Lesson 3: Critical Attributes of the 21st Century Education

Our activity is called ORGANIZING THOUGHTS.

Write an essay using the topic:

“Education has changed over the years.”

Write your answer here:

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT:
Given the lesson key words on the first column write your own
description and check using internet or dictionary:
Lesson key words Your description Internet/Dictionary
meaning

Critical

Attributes

Education

Rigorous

Integrated

Interdisciplinary

Multimedia

Lifelong learning

Project-based

ANALYSIS:

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Lesson 3: Critical Attributes of the 21st Century Education

The first column is the critical attributes of 21 st-century education; what do you
think are the teaching and learning activities (TLA) to achieve each detail?
Write your answer in the spaces in the second column, then analyze if the
TLA’s are being practiced in your classroom, write yes or no in the third
column.

Critical Attributes of Suggested Teaching and Are you currently doing

21st Century Learning Activities to these suggested activities
Education Achieve the Attribute in your school? (Yes/No)
1. Integrated and
Interdisciplinary
2. Technologies and
Multimedia

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

5. Student-Centered

6. 21st Century Skills

7. Project-based and
Research-driven
Engage learners in
collaborative projects that
will challenge them to find
8. Relevant, Rigorous, ways to solve real-world
and problems, such as Yes
Real-world pollution, global warming,
drug addiction, and the
like.

ABSTRACTION:

This illustration helps you to understand our lesson:

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Source: 21st Century Schools (2011)

Critical Attributes of the 21st Century Education

In today’s educational landscape, teachers need to think globally. Whether

you teach in private or government schools, as teachers, we need to develop
a new generation of students who think and act globally. Therefore, it is
imperative to know more about the critical attributes of 21 st-century education.

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 multiple 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 enhancing 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.

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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 internet) and
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 multimedia, 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, you need to
develop your digital literacy skills to 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.

It means that teachers should facilitate students’ acquisition of KSAVs that go

beyond academics. Learning should take place not only to pass exams but
also to transfer knowledge to real-life situations. The curriculum should be
planned so 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 standard in 21st-century classrooms, where diverse student
factors are taken into account when planning and delivering education. You,
as a teacher, can structure learning environments that address the variety of
learning styles, interests, needs, and abilities found in your classroom.

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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 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
necessary 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, problemsolving and decision making, and ICT literacy and skills. As a
teacher, you are expected to possess these 21st-century skills before helping
your students develop these skills.

7. Project-Based and Research-Driven

Among the critical attributes of 21st-century education is data, information,
and evidence-based decision making. It relies heavily on student-driven
activities to encourage active learning. It implies that teachers of the 21st
century need to be knowledgeable about research to guide their students’
learning through selfdirected activities, such as learning projects within and
outside their classrooms. Investigatory projects showcased in many science
fairs across Southeast Asia and 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
dayto-day activities of learners. It can be applied to the realities of the present
and includes what students need to develop 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.

APPLICATION:

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 Unit 1: Introduction of Key Concepts
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Now for application of what you have learned, identify different teaching and
learning activities that you experienced in the classroom from the previous
discussions/lessons with your professor. Try to analyze and discuss its
connections to the eight critical attributes of 21 st-century education. Use A4
bond paper, Arial 12-point font with 1.5 spacing, and 1-inch margin on all
sides (Refer to the rubric).

VII. REFLECTION/ANALYSIS
Study the first column of the table below which provides a list of the new parameters
in education in the 21st century. Your task is to give examples of the “new things” in
education listed in the first column. You may write your answer in the second
column. The last item, New Spaces/Dimensions of Learning, has been done for you.
Work on the rest of the examples.
What’s New in Education Your Examples

New approaches to teacher

The new content of learning

New acquisition of learning

New types of learners

New spaces/dimensions of Classes can now be held online instead of only
learning within classrooms

VIII. QUIZ

MULTIPLE CHOICE: Circle ONLY the letter that corresponds to your answer.

1. It is one of the critical attributes of 21st-century education that promotes the

skills needed to be productive members of today’s society.
a. Student-Centered c. Project-Based and Research-Driven
b. 21st Century Skills d. Relevant, Rigorous, and Real-world

2. 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.
a. Student-Centered c. Project-Based and Research-Driven
b. 21st Century Skills d. Global classrooms

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3. This critical attribute implies that the school will need to acquire and use
computers and various multimedia equipment to enhance learning to the best
extent possible.

a. Student-Centered c. Technologies and Multimedia

b. 21st Century Skills d. Relevant, Rigorous, and Real-world

4. 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 enhancing the learning experiences of students.
a. Student-Centered c. Integrated and Interdisciplinary
b. 21st Century Skills d. Relevant, Rigorous and Real-world

5. This critical attribute implies that as 21st century teacher, you need to be
updated on the current trends, developments, and issues in your school,
community, and in the world.
a. Student-Centered c. Integrated and Interdisciplinary
b. 21st Century Skills d. Relevant, Rigorous and Real-world

6. This critical attribute implies that teachers should act as facilitators of learning
not as sages on the stage but as guides on the side.
a. Student-Centered c. Integrated and Interdisciplinary
b. 21st Century Skills d. Relevant, Rigorous and Real-world

7. This critical attribute implies that learning should take place not only for the
purpose of passing exams, but also for transferring knowledge to real life
situations.
a. Student-Centered c. Integrated and Interdisciplinary
b. 21st Century Skills d. Creating/Adapting to Constant Personal
and Social Change, and Lifelong Learning

8. It is referred to as the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, and create information

using technologies and multimedia or digital technology in general.

a. Digital Literacy c. Multimedia Literacy

b. Technology Literacy d. Information Literacy

9. This critical attribute implies that teachers of the 21st century need to be
knowledgeable about research to guide their learning through self-directed
activities, such as learning projects within and outside their classrooms.
a. Student-Centered c. Project-Based and Research-Driven
b. 21st Century Skills d. Global classrooms

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10. It is the meaning of the acronym TLA.

a. Teaching and Learning Attributes c. Teacher and Learner Attributes
b. Teacher and Learners Activities d. Teaching and Learning Activities

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