Are you teaching in a 21st century classroom? Chances are if you are an English language educator working in the classroom today, you have already moved well ahead of your peers and colleagues teaching math, science, and good old fashioned grammar. Now that you know you are 21st century teacher, what does that mean? And how do you know if you have moved ahead of the curve to embrace what we call the 21st century skills?
Actually, “21st century skills” is a bit of a misnomer. The prized skills of the 21st century actually have existed in teaching and learning as long as we have been teaching and learning. Socrates and Aristotle would feel right at home (although maybe underdressed) in a 21st century class. The phrase itself is meant to imply a classroom that is ready for the upcoming STEM needs of employment that will allow for innovation, development and major advances across tech and on-tech industries. Yet, the skills themselves do not imply a highly technological classroom. In fact, a modern 21st century class can be a surprisingly low-budget place.