‘Our children are smarter than us’ is an oft-quoted saying by parents about their children. We always feel that the next generation is more intelligent than the previous one. Read on to know why.
For centuries, education has been mainly focused on rote-learning, examinations, and marks. However, with the changing times, reformers in education have identified learning skills that impact development today. These are popularly known as ‘21st century learning skills’. When schools and parents focus on the development of these traits, then the children turn out to be ‘smarter’ and more capable in facing today’s world. These are :
Critical thinking skills: This involves the ability to carefully study a range of topics and be able to analyze, evaluate and synthesize the given information in a way that a proper solution to the problem is found. For example, we all were taught to learn several formulas in math and apply them to problems. But today, children are given a sheet of formulas and they need to decipher which formula is most suitable to solve a problem.
Creative thinking skills: To come up with imaginative and creative ideas and solutions to a problem is being creative. These skills lead to innovations, discoveries and inventions. ‘Out of the box’ thinking is highly encouraged in today’s schools. For example, in the art class, children are not told to simply draw a fishing boat ; but are asked to draw a machine which can easily detect where the maximum fishes are in the sea and how they can be caught.
Collaboration and Communication skills: Networking is a key skill in today’s times. Being an effective member of a team is something that is taught to children from the day they enter school. Also, schools increasingly focus on building self-confidence in kids so that their communication skills help them to collaborate better.
Life and Career skills: These include flexibility, adaptability, initiative and self-direction – all very, very important to develop a holistic human being. With these skills, students are more able to adjust in multi-cultural situations and different environments in both their career and life. This is the reason why international schools in the country have increased and become a success, exposing our children to multi-faceted environments.
We need to lookout for schools that help develop these traits in our children as well as focus on them ourselves as parents so that their foundation in life is strong.
Understanding the importance of the 21st-century learning skills, Firstcry Intellitots Preschool offers a scientific, holistic model – Sparkz â„¢, with a focus on music perception, earth science, visual arts technology, life skills and value education. Through Sparkz, the school inculcates a ‘Love for Learning’ in each child in the most critical childhood years.
