Most important skill 21st Century Learner should have

One of the most important skill an 21st century learner should have is how to think critically. With so much information available online, it’s crucial that learner’s analyze, question and challenge what they are being told. They should remain open-minded, evaluate situations and think outside the box when approaching tasks.

Encourage critical thinking by predicting what is going to happen in a reading or listening activity, take challenging problems to solve, use a variety of games and puzzles and try out questions with multiple answers.

You could also try debates where you have to examine the advantages and disadvantages of the different scenarios before starting.

In business settings, critical thinking is essential to improvement. It’s the mechanism that weeds out problems and replaces them with fruitful endeavors.

It’s what helps learners figure stuff out for themselves when they don’t have a teacher at their disposal.

Like any skill, critical thinking can be refined through practice. Try walking through your day with problem-solving glasses on. For example, if you’re stuck in a long line at the grocery store run though the situation—what’s the primary cause of the delay? What can be done to help? Could this solution have an effect on other areas in the store? Just getting into an evaluation and problem-solving mindset can go a long way in refining your critical thinking abilities.

It’s not hard to see how this ability can be valuable in life—and employers certainly appreciate an employee who is forward-thinking enough to predict and plan for future problems before they’ve even happened.