21st century skills

The two readings depict the new standards that are expected from students living in the 21st century, which goes beyond having the basic knowledge of the core subjects (English, language arts, world languages, arts, mathematics, economics, science, geography, history, government and civics). The world has become a place that is very connected through technological advances, and in order to succeed with the global economy and social expectations, students are encouraged to be more aware globally and be fluent in technological communications.

 Technology has made communication and access to information quicker but this also means that there are more expectations for students to know more. I think it is great that students are more "well-rounded" in a sense that they have more skills beyond the knowledge of the core subjects. These skills help them to be more open and knowledgeable about the world around them. I think awareness helps students to be more flexible that helps them adjust well and quicker to new obstacles in life.

 However, a part of me also think that as a society, we should be cautious of the dramatic increase of expectations we have for our students. They are expected to be smart, creative, innovated, flexible, social, productive, and responsible. On top of that, they are called to be independent leaders who know how to collaborate with others. Those are a lot of expectations! I believe that the best change is gradual change because it eliminates a drastic fall, which could lead to psychological damages. A friend of mine in Korea once had a theory that Korea's technological advances happened so quick that the people's mentality hasn’t been able to catch up. This kind of misalignment could happen to our students, which I believe is not always healthy for our country.

 Sometimes I feel bad for kids growing up right now because they know so much and are expected to know even more as they get older. It takes a lot of development as a child to reach all the standards stated in both articles, and most students do not receive enough preparation to enter the same playing field. This definitely causes a wider gap between students with more opportunities and those with a lesser-privileged background.