Don’t limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time.

— Rabindranath Tagore

One can never get weary of quoting Tagore for often his words find ways to speak of truths for all times. In the 21st century, schools should promote habits of the mind that are essential to students’ success in life—such as critical thinking, flexibility, persistence, and openness to change. Let us find out how some of the essential skills can be acquired to meet the 21st century-job market needs and how Tagore’s words on education are relevant even today.

Many countries throughout the world have implemented extensive curriculum and assessment changes to prepare the upcoming generation of students for the upcoming educational demands of the 21st-century job-market. The prerequisite for learning new skills is trained teachers who can guide students towards achieving their goals and crossing unchartered territories.

Some of the futuristic trends that will shape the learning of tomorrow's global students are listed below along with skills mentors should have.

1. Critical thinking

This skill has always been associated with teachers and is the most crucial skill now than ever before. It entails combining prior knowledge with sound reasoning. It requires quick judgments and decision-making on the basis of information available after proper evaluation of claims and real-life events. It helps in devising innovative solutions to unfamiliar problems by asking relevant questions and building different perspectives.

In order to be innovative and creative, it is important to think outside the box and come up with ideas that are unique and different from what has been done before. It is also important to be open to new ideas and to be willing to take risks. Failure is often a part of innovation and creativity, and it is important to learn from mistakes in order to be successful.

This can be done through brainstorming, which is a process of coming up with ideas by thinking creatively and without restrictions.

2. Collaboration

Like critical thinking skills, future mentors need to work on building their collaborative skills as well. Mentors provide an example for students to follow by working effectively and politely with others. It also allows students to learn how to operate in a variety of different situations. It fosters a sense of teamwork and aids in the formation of a core value system around which future partnerships and relationships will be built. It also increases inherent communication skills, which may be helpful in different socio-cultural and linguistic situations, allowing for future growth. Computational fluency is the ability to perform mathematical operations quickly, accurately, and with confidence. It is an important skill for students to develop, as it allows them to solve complex problems and think critically about their work.

3. Technical and media literacy

As a mentor, it is viable to have not only access to information but also command over the information to be able to use it properly to aid problems. Similarly, technical tools aid in the research and organization of information that can integrate interdisciplinary resources for multi-cultural interpretations. These interpretations also help in examining various media messages characterized by diversity and knowledge systems.

Digital literacy is the ability to effectively use digital technologies for communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. This includes the ability to find, evaluate, and create information using digital technologies. Digital literacy is an important skill in today’s world as more and more communication and collaboration is done online. It is also important for solving many real-world problems.

Also Read: Entering the New and Exciting World of Digital Art

Contrary to popular belief, digital literacy is not just about using computers or the internet. It also includes using mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, as well as other digital technologies such as video cameras and GPS devices.

4. Accountability

With proper planning and management of tasks to achieve the desired goals, productivity is bound to increase. It is critical to learn to be successful in the face of adversity by establishing and achieving goals. Accountability is a trademark of 21st-century work culture and it has to be at the center of each workplace culture. It is acquired through focusing on one's value system and work ethics. Some principles of accountability include professionalism in the workplace, punctuality, receptiveness, and time management amongst others.

5. Initiative and self-direction

In case it has not become evident by now, let it be clear – all these skills focus on practical application rather than theoretical understanding. It is critical to learn to take initiative and be self-motivated. Working independently in order to monitor and complete your tasks aids in achieving mastery of that task.

To develop and maintain an effective mentoring partnership, KidsChaupal believes in using a training framework. We have always strived hard to provide up-to-date technical information and to improve the teaching process. Learning and strength-based development have helped us form and sustain our mentorship connections.

Enroll in our courses and thrive in this innovation-driven economy where a different mix of skills is essential.