Why 21st Century Skills?

21st Century Skills

Most of us are familiar with the 4Cs of 21st Century Skills: (1) Creativity, (2) Collaboration, (3) Critical Thinking, and (4) Communication. But why do these matter more today? What is the context that requires us to change how we teach and learn?

21st Century Context

The 21st Century is a wildly different place than what schools were designed for. The 21st Century is rapidly increasing towards more (1) Complexity, (2) Change, (3) Competition, and (4) Connectedness. To thrive in these four future conditions, the 4Cs of the 21st Century Context, students will need to master the 4C’s of 21st Century Skills.

21st Century Classrooms

As the world’s context changes, schools must evolve too, or risk leaving every student behind. And perhaps if we first start with understanding the world students will enter, it will be easier for teachers to get the support and autonomy they deserve in creating a 21st Century classroom. We believe an Agile Classroom cultivates this like no other. Daring to stretch our alliterations, we have the 4C’s to build an Agile Classroom (1) Clarity via The Visible Classrooms, (2) Cadence via The Learning Sprint, (3) Choice via Growing Self-Direction, and (4) Collaboration via Growing Capacity to Work Together.