Education for the 21st Century

E-ISSN： 1447-9559|6|2|27-34

ISSN： 1447-9508

Source： The International Journal of the Humanities: Annual Review, Vol.6, Iss.2, 2008-01, pp. : 27-34

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Abstract

The rate of change in today’s society has led to the realization that the model of teaching and learning that evolved to meet the needs of industrial society requires considerable transformation if it is to support the educational needs of students today. The means by which education can be transformed to equip students with the skills they will need to survive in the future is the focus of much of debate and dispute in educational circles. What is clear is that educators, students and society in general will have to redefine what it is to be a student, what constitutes effective teaching and learning and what types of knowledge, skills and strategies are considered important for successful learning. This paper investigates important components of a new pedagogy which includes a more holistic understanding of the nature of intelligence and how the brain operates, the impact of rich learning environments and the importance of building on students’ existing strengths. It discusses difference and diversity as characteristics to be celebrated as they both divide learners as individuals and connect the same learners as members of a learning community and explores the role of differentiation in the context of primary classrooms.