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Amanda Cannon
Ontario Tech University
Abstract
With technology advancing and information being so accessible with the internet, the skills required of learners have changed significantly over the last few years, according to Forbes (Adams, 2014). Learners need to possess strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to effectively communicate, while making quick decisions and solving unexpected problems. It is equally as important that they demonstrate affective skills and traits such as dependability, adaptability, self-discipline, interpersonal skills, and responsibility. Along with the previously mentioned skills and abilities, we know that through collaboration comes innovation, this makes being able to effectively work and collaborate with others an essential skill required to be successful in the digital world of the 21st century. With so much information available at our fingertips, educators can no longer evaluate learners based on the memorization of facts. The importance is now focused on learners creating meaningful solutions to ill-structured problems and real-world scenarios. Technology can be used in the classroom to promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills, to enhance student engagement, encourage participation and collaboration, as well as be utilized as an effective tool for formative and/or summative assessment. Technology can be used to support education by focusing on developing the skills students require in order to be successful in the 21st century and promote strong digital citizenship. Essential skills, including collaboration are required in order to be successful in adult life, reach employment goals and ultimately promote lifelong learning.
Keywords: essential skills, collaboration, 21st century skills, problem solving skills, digital citizenship, analytical skills, critical thinking skills, innovation
Introduction
As technology advances and the needs of the learners are changing, it is important that the teaching methods of our educators are also changing and adapting to fit the needs of the students. Moving away from traditional teaching methods, educators are seeking new ways to personalize learning and incorporate current technologies such as interactive presentation software, social media applications, websites and blogging, video, digital simulations, and computer games, just to name a few.
Technology can be used to support a learner-centred classroom environment that focuses on collaboration. Students should be involved in active learning activities that encourage them to develop a deeper understanding of content by working with and reflecting upon the material being presented (Brown, Roediger, & McDaniel, 2014). Eliciting students’ previous knowledge and understanding by using technology tools help to provide the opportunity to build and challenge that initial understanding. Having so many available resources allows the classroom to now become the place to work through problems,