21st Century Communication Skills

Educators all around the world are always ready and eager to introduce new and better ways to practice with their students, as things change constantly and children are always in need of different strategies and objectives that drive them to success. 

That is where 21^st century skills appear, or as others call them the 4 c’s being:

Critical thinking

 Students must think and learn about the standards to understand what the expectations they should hold on to are. They have to be able to make judgments and decisions in their own work support their thoughts. Important as well is to solve problems, this ability will help them along their future in and out the school.

Creativity

Every child is born with the potential of being creative, so as teachers we must encourage and recognize it. Accepting different ways of solving a problem and allowing them to take risks within the work to see what are the results is another way to show them you trust them and support their process.

Collaboration 

Team work is always needed in life, so if students learn about it early in their school days then it will be easier to reproduce later. Students must know that in a team everyone has a part and must respect others ideas as well as their own. It can be difficult at first but with practice everything comes together.

Communication.

 This part could easily be divided in two more, oral and written communications. Both branches needed in order to create a complete learning experience. Students who are able to communicate in general will have more opportunities than those who have a difficult time lacing their thoughts with their expression. To help learners in this area the classroom must give the feeling of safety, confidence and care to everyone so they have no fear in trying even when doubtful about their contributions to the class. There is nothing wrong with learning by trial and error as long as is permanent.

This skills are very important and should be practiced most of the time in the class, they can be adapted or followed by simple changes and activities. One thing that we can be sure of is that they will help our students with their productions in a permanent way.