We are in the 21st CENTURY!!!!

21st CENTURY!!!! It is the big word and when this word is mention, people will associate it with a lot, a lot of things! One thing that we learnt was 21st century skills. This is one thing that is very important. They are skills that are needed by learners in order to cope with the globalization.

There are 4 main points that were brought up by lots of researchers.

1. Life and career skills

2. Learning and innovation skills

3. Information, media and technology skills

4. Core subjects and 21st century themes.

And this semester, we are exposed to the technology part. Technology is the main thing and the most 'in' thing in the 21st century. It boast of lots of advantages, hence everywhere the government are trying to make sure that the citizens are following and not falling behind in this aspect. There are lots of different people, groups and researcher that had come out with different curriculum that they think can help to enable the devleopment of 21st century's skills.

They all proposed different teaching and learning instruction and after learning about all of them, I felt it is applicable and every method/ instruction has its pros and cons.

For me, at the end it boils down to whether the students are benefiting out of all the things or changes that we do. Like the most current issue was about the amendments to the standardized test like UPSR and PMR. I felt it is very good and it is also about time that the government change the way they stress on the importance of results but not the real understanding of knowledge and the real meaning of education.

So I am living in the 21st century. I am the techno-savvy generation where everything should be done in a simple yet very techno-based kind of way. Imagine the kids that we are going to teach next time! They will be even more techno-savvy, that is why the quote on life-long learning comes in. We have to continue to upgrade ourselves and never stop learning.

Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study. Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life.

Henry L. Doherty