21st Century Skills
Students today prepare for workplace and college experiences that are global, high-tech and information-savvy. Teaching 21st century skills empower your students to thrive in a rapidly-changing economy.
Why should I teach 21st century skills?
Give them the skills they need to:
- Enhance critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication.
- Teach hands-on knowledge and skills for real-world application.
- Enable interdisciplinary and project-based learning.
- Increase engagement, problem solving, and accountability.
See 21st Century Skills in Action
Students Create Video Lessons
"The time I spent creating mathcasts helped me develop a set of skills that have prepared me for the next big step: attending college.
"Through these videos I have learned how to clearly communicate visually and verbally, study more effectively, become a leader among my peers and take control of my education by extending learning beyond the classroom."
Tiana Kadkhoda, Santa Monica High School
Students Teaching Technology
Dr. Roland Rios has a select group of trusted Tech Interns get to hone their hands-on technology skills by making training videos and screencasts for teachers.
"To trust the student to know what they're doing is a great thing nowdays because we're growing up with technology and I think we're learning it a little bit faster."
Student in Rios' Tech Interns program
How do I use this in my everyday classroom?
Students learn best by doing. Watch how quickly they create and share their own educational screencasts for hands-on learning.
- Explain math concepts and problem-solving concepts to each other.
- Respond to literature and interpret science results.
- Measure learning via online formative and performance-based assessments.
- Reflect on writing, portfolios and current events.
- Demonstrate internet search skills and digital literacy with wikis, blogs, video conferencing, crowd sourcing.
- Record and analyze student-led lessons and collaborative group projects.
- Encourage students to evaluate their own video presentations and those of their classmates.
How do I get started?
- Start small. Use 21st century skills in one lesson.
- You can use hardware you already have - BYOD (bring your own device), 1:1, or shared school resources.
- Download your favorite screencasting solution. Students can record their voice and what’s on their computer screen to help them develop a variety of 21st century skills.