Skills for the 21st Century: the heart in the computer

6th Pan African TVET Conference Table Bay Hotel, Cape Town

29th October 2015 Dr Edna Rooth LifeSkills Africa

Is teaching emotional literacy and teaching computer skills within one subject possible?

Exploration

• 21st Century skills development

• TVET colleges offer a unique curriculum, Life Orientation

• Possibilities and problems in presenting Life Orientation at TVET colleges - as an example of 21st Century educational innovation, thinking, teaching and learning.

What we need

• 21st Century skills development and nurturing demand an education that is:

• flexible

• adaptable

• at the forefront to challenge outmoded teaching and learning practices

• able to boldly transform and renew.

Curriculum Transformation

21st Century skills

‘’Soft skills’’ - personal competences, building and developing self-

awareness

• Critical thinking

• Communication

• Collaboration

• Creativity

13 Cs for 21st Century • Career creation

• Communication

• Creativity

• Critical thinking & problem solving

• Choosing

• Comprehension

• Computers!

• Caring!

• Confidence

• Calming commotions

• Conflict resolution

• Collaboration

• Climate change management

Turning potential into possibility

…but combined?

LIFE SKILLS = PSYCHOLOGY & SOCIOLOGY (PERSONAL)

ICT=ICT (IMPERSONAL)

HUH?

Knowledge without wisdom is like water in the sand. (African proverb)

Knowledge with compassion

http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCP_c0YyU4sgCFYLXGgodq8AIeA&url=http://quotesideas.com/knowledge/&psig=AFQjCNFCwzuz3_EFtHrhUb0Bphuh2-xKmw&ust=1446018301407390

Forget the right-left brain dichotomy … we need whole brained learning

activists

PERCEPTION

PERCEPTION

COLLABORATION

LIFE ORIENTATION

FUNDAMENTAL

• LIFE SKILLS

• ICT

PERSONAL AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT

LEARNING SKILLS

• Thinking skills

• Problem solving

• Reflection skills

• Study and exam skills

HEALTH & WELLBEING

CITIZENSHIP

Proudly South African

ICT LITERACY

And beyond ICT literacy

Social media

PROBLEMS

• Psychology training

• ICT training

• Integration needs creativity and flexibility, collaboration

• Campus attitude: no Facebook, no Internet

• Typing and speed typing

TEACHER TRAINING: HEIs

Aaaarrrggghhhhhhhhhhhh!

Learners are the

same as they have

always been.

The same

methods that

worked for me

when I was a

student, will work

for my students

now…

21st Century Content should be delivered in a 21st Century Context

Teaching and learning spaces

POSSIBILITIES

• Innovative TVET curriculum: Life Orientation

• ICT is valuable when teaching Life skills

• Life skills is valuable when teaching ICT

ICT HAS AN IMPACT ON LEARNING

• Ability to concentrate – yes to gaming!

• Read, see, interpret, remember, understand, experiment and experience

• Work collaboratively

• Learn independently

• Have an improved class atmosphere: Technology excites and engages students. They love social media, to be creative and to work in trendy mediums that produce instant visible results.

TECHNOLOGY IS AN ENABLER

‘’…and it becomes more powerful when in

creative, free hands. …We have seen that no hands are more creative, and no thoughts are freer, than those of young people. When their potential meets the opportunities offered by the right technology tools, the results can be amazing….’’ (Riccarda Zezza)

http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCNLc38Cc4MgCFUTZGgod99YH-w&url=http://www.podcastchart.com/podcasts/digital-diaries&psig=AFQjCNHvesoR_HynkT87uICxDeV_i1YErg&ust=1445951822171314

GROWTH

THANK YOU

Dr Edna Rooth LifeSkills Africa

edna@lifeskillsafrica.co.za