Why 21st Century Competencies?

Many organizations have developed frameworks for how to provide the skills and competencies necessary for 21st century learners. In Ontario, the Ministry of Education has produced a document: 21st Century Competencies: Foundation Document for Discussion. The goal of the website I have created is to provide Ontario educators information about the characteristics of each competency that is identified in this document, as well as resources that will support nurturing 21st century learners.

I am currently an elementary teacher and this topic thoroughly engages me. I feel inspired to think about the ways to incorporate this framework into my teaching practice, because I believe it makes learning much more relevant and meaningful. The competencies cover a range of abilities that span across the cognitive, intrapersonal and interpersonal domains (Government of Ontario, 2015). In Ontario, the competencies are identified as Global Citizenship, Collaboration, Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, Communication, Learning to Learn/ Self-Aware & Self-Directed Learning, and Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. This lens on education inspires me because it seems much more broad-reaching and holistic than the way I experienced school as a student. I believe that learning with the competencies in mind disrupts the current systems and structures in a way that is necessary in order to create a society that is more empathetic, creative, collaborative and aware.

I have provided information about a broad range of resources, some of which may be useful for elementary contexts, and some of which may be better suited to secondary school students. In some cases, the tools or strategies I have highlighted may apply to any learner. For the most part, I have tried to include resources that are available free of charge. In the case of video resources, I have indicated the length of each video so that you may be made aware of the time commitment required to click and watch. Your attention and your time are both valuable, and I would like to respect that. I hope that you will find something useful that you can use in your learning environment.