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Thursday, September 07, 2006
ICT, creativity ‘musts’ for 21st century labor
Teaching methods in the world need to be innovated and should incorporate other factors besides core subjects for tomorrow’s graduates to become successful in a globally competitive society.
This is what George Scharffenberger of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills shared to the more than 800 delegates of the two-day 2nd National ICT (information and communication technology) in Basic Education Congress, which kicked-off yesterday at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Aside from the core subjects—such as, reading, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics, government, economics, arts, history and geography—Scharffenberger said 21st century learning must include ICT literacy, thinking and learning skills and personal skills.
“ICT literacy is the ability to use technology. But even more, it is the ability to integrate the use of ICT into more effective thinking and learning skills such as critical thinking and problem solving, creativity and innovation, communication, collaboration, contextual learning and information and media literacy,” he said.
Potential
He said ICT has a tremendous potential to contribute to the development of 21st century skills.
Sadly, the focus is often limited to the development of a limited set of ICT skills instead of using ICT to develop a broader range of skills, such as personal skills, he added.
Personal skills include ethics, leadership, accountability, adaptability, productivity, responsibility, people skills, self-director and social responsibility.
It also encompasses 21st century content, such as global awareness, financial, economic, business and entrepreneurship literacy, civic literacy, and health and wellness.
Scharffenberger said these are “must-have” skills in the 21st century.
He said to be able to compete in the 21st century, “a student must be an analytic thinker, a problem solver, (must be) innovative and creative, (have) effective communication, (be an) effective collaborator, (is) information and media literate, globally aware, civically engaged and financially and economically literate.”
Partnership
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is an advocacy organization that focuses on infusing 21st century skills in education.
The organization brings together the business community, education leaders and policy makers to define a powerful vision for 21st century education; to ensure every child’s success as citizens and workers in the 21st century, according to the organization’s website (www.21stcenturyskills.org).
Scharffenberger advised the country’s educators to collaborate with community organizations, business and higher education institutions to establish consensus on the skills needed by the nation and the community, aside from creating teacher training and professional development strategies.
Delegates to the ICT congress include school officials, division and regional officials of the Department of Education, administrators of private schools, state universities and colleges as well as representatives from the private sector and non-profit organizations working in the field of ICT in basic education. (JBN)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 7, 2006 issue)
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