Preparing citizens for the 21st century

With the Government deploying $24.3 billion for education, it demonstrates its commitment to human development. Today, however, much of the national education system retains elements built for the agrarian economies that existed 50 years ago when it was enough to master the “Three Rs” (reading, writing and arithmetic). In the modern world, the “Three Rs” simply aren’t enough and if we want to compete in this global society, we must also be proficient as critical thinkers, creators, communicators, and collaborators (the “Four Cs”).
Critical thinking has been an essential skill through the centuries. However, technology has changed its platform. Critical thinking means looking at problems in a new way and linking learning across subjects and disciplines. It can be defined in several ways; the first being to reason effectively by using various types of reasoning (inductive, deductive, etc) as appropriate to the situation. Secondly, we can use “systems thinking” by analysing how parts of a whole interact with each other to produce overall outcomes in complex systems. Then thirdly, we can make judgements and decisions by effectively analysing and evaluating evidence, arguments, claims, and beliefs to evaluate major alternative points of view such as presented in the recent budget debate. We can further synthesise and make connections between information and arguments to interpret information and draw conclusions based on the best analysis. Finally, we can use our minds to solve different kinds of unfamiliar problems in both conventional and innovative ways by identifying and asking significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions.
The 21st century is a fun time to be creative. Though the traditional ways of creativity are still available, with the emergence of technology there are numerous new possibilities available. Creativity means trying new approaches to getting things done: innovation and invention. Instead of just painting a picture, we can animate it or arrange a piece of music on a computer without ever learning how to play an instrument. While it is said that the spread of AI might dull creativity, it can be used to augment our personal, innate talents.
Communication is about sharing thoughts, questions, ideas, and solutions. In the technological age, it is much easier and, at the same time, harder to communicate. Technology has provided with more convenient ways to communicate, but sometimes the various ways can become overwhelming. Without effective communication, however, there is no way to get anything done. We have to decide which ones are effective and which ones are not? And how they can be used or leveraged effectively? The power of modern media and the ubiquity of communication technologies in all aspects of life make teaching strong communication skills even more important. While education has always emphasised fluent reading, correct speech, and clear writing, there is evidence that students are not mastering these most basic skills. Employers note that although oral and written communication are among the top four skills they seek in new hires, all graduates are lacking in these areas. We must practice communicating clearly by articulating thoughts and ideas effectively using oral, written, and non-verbal communication skills in a variety of forms and contexts. Just as importantly, we must listen effectively to decipher meaning, including knowledge, values, attitudes, and intentions. Today, we can use multiple media and technologies to increase and assess the impact and effectiveness of our communication.
Collaboration is about working together to reach a goal and putting talent, expertise, and smarts to work. Just like with communication, technology has made collaboration easier. Actually, technology takes collaboration a step farther, making types of collaboration possible that weren’t before technology. As the world grows more interconnected, collaboration will become a more and more essential skill than it already is. Collaboration can be defined as demonstrating an ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams while exercising flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal. We should always, assume shared responsibility for collaborative work, and value the individual contributions made by each team member.
Welcome to the 21st century!!