In this day and age, where everything revolves around technology, it is not surprising to discover how much things have changed over the last few decades. Back in the ‘olden’ days the skills emphasized in education were known as the 3Rs which stands for Reading, Writing and Arithmetic.
This soon changed into the 4Cs – Collaboration, Creativity, Communication, and Critical Thinking. Later embedded into what is known as the 21st Century skills, the 4Cs proved to be crucial in a 21st Century classroom.
Let’s explore how educators are able to embrace the modern age by explicating these strategies within the 21st century classroom.
1- Project-based Learning
What is project-based learning? You see it popping up everywhere in educational contexts but exactly is it?
For starters, project-based learning is a learner-centred teaching strategy which can be implemented in school as one of the ways to assess a student’s understanding on a particular subject by applying it to real-world challenges and problems.
The elements of project-based learning include working on a specific task for a long period of time in which the task is broken down to stages and level of complexity. Project-based learning can be executed individually or collaboratively.
Whichever way you wish to administer this teaching strategy, the main focus of project-based learning is always application of theory into practice. The contexts of practice can vary from one subject to the other.
2- Problem-based Learning and Design Thinking
Problem-based learning, on the other hand, is a teaching strategy that guides students to approach a problem collaboratively.
Usually the problems given are open-ended, however, teachers who need some kind of structure for assessment purposes may opt for more objective solutions to a specific problem. The key in problem-based learning is its flexibility.
The teacher may use problem-based learning to assess different areas of a student such as speaking skills or mathematical skills. Embedded within problem-based learning is design thinking. Design thinking helps to structure problem-based learning by teaching the students to adhere to the following sequenced steps in solving a problem: (1) Empathise, (2) Define, (3) Ideate, (4) Prototype, and (5) Test.
3- Computational Thinking
This teaching strategy is fairly new to all of us, but not alien to the 21st century classroom. The concept of computational thinking still revolves around problem solving, however, what makes computational thinking different is that it requires technology such as computers and robotics.
If the facilities of your school are well-equipped and integrated with technology, then you may want to incorporate this new-age teaching and learning strategy in the classroom. What makes computational thinking a great learning strategy is that, on the surface, it may seem as if the teaching strategy makes technology a required component.
The reality of it all is that the foundations of computational thinking rely on concepts such as algorithms, sequencing, and repetition. Even preschools can benefit from this teaching strategy as unplugged computational thinking can be found in simple, everyday tasks such as brushing teeth and tying shoelaces.
4- Interdisciplinary Learning
This occurs when you combine more than one teaching strategy for your classroom. In order to implement interdisciplinary learning, a teacher must be well-aware of all the choices that are available for him/her to choose. More importantly, the teacher needs to be able to gage the learning needs of each and every student in the classroom to ensure inclusiveness and effectiveness of the teaching and learning process.
Interdisciplinary learning displays a teacher’s efficiency and competency in tackling any challenges that might come up within a classroom of different types of students. There are many teacher training programmes being offered to teachers of different levels.
These teacher training programmes provide educators a platform to sharpen their teaching skills and constantly expand their knowledge of the education world. Apart from that, these teacher training programmes guide educators to embrace and adapt to the ever-changing state of each and every education trend.
At ALFA and Friends, teachers using our curriculum and programmes are given professional development to develop qualified educators who are equipped with the best quality of teaching strategies and techniques. This ensures that our teachers always stay up-to-date with the most recent teaching and learning trends. Moreover, our professional development programme gives teachers a global outlook on education, widening the perspective to international standards of education.
The ALFA and Friends professional development programme is designed as a step by step process over the course of three years. Teachers who take part in this programme will be given scaffolded training through collaborative tasks and activities. What makes the ALFA and Friends’ professional development programme unique from other teacher training programmes out there is its complexity and depthness of content in each training session.
In order to offer an all-around training programme, teachers are also trained to properly assess learners through the ALFA and Friends’ patented rubrics and scheme of work.
