What do we need to make a 21st-century skills curriculum? Do we need to change the way we teach? Firstly, it doesn’t look like we really need to change that much. We have classrooms that are dynamic, with digital tech and highly creative activities. But we also have a problem because society doesn’t measure success in softer skills. Success is judged on rote learning, photographic memories and the ability to write under a time constraint. This system perpetuates an antiquated view of education. It could produce academically brilliant students, but they may lack the skills that make them employable. 

Education is the key tool to manage the challenges ahead. That's why we must use education to help students ride this wave of change and give them the skills they need for the new jobs of the 21st century. The world in the 21st century is now seen as a place of constant change. In the world of today, students should know how to communicate, collaborate, and present their ideas to navigate through various challenges in the advanced life. As we move further into the 21st century, the call for pedagogies that promote 21st century skills to be adopted in Educational institutions and they should adopt pedagogies that promote the development of the following skills:

• Critical thinking;
• Problem-solving;
• Creativity and innovation;
• Collaboration and teamwork;
• Leadership;
• Communications and information fluency;
• Computing and ICT fluency;
• Career and learning self-reliance

Growth in connectivity, underpinned by rapid uptake of digital technologies, and the dominance of social media platforms, have informed visions of learning beyond formal school systems that are grounded in collaboration and networking. Educators should recognise the trends that are occurring with how students are learning and to integrate some of the features of this learning culture into their classrooms. 

An educator in the 21st century should be able to anticipate and make plans for the future. He or she should be able to prepare the students for the unpredictable situations in life with the involvement of technology. You may discuss how life-long learning will be a way forward in the future world. Active learning, project-based education, learning through inquiry, reasoning and problem-solving skills are all imperative for the holistic development of students.

We can't teach our students for tomorrow in the schools that existed yesterday. Educators should explore the high-tech and high-touch landscape and pull up the kids with them. KOBE Learn is an app designed to help young users learn common words and phrases in Ojibway, Cree and Oji-Cree, the traditional languages of the northern communities served by the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Board of Education. 

"The focus was on the 21st century learner," said Sarah Johnson, the native language lead with the board, "many of our children are focusing now on technology." 

The app was developed by the board with the help of language teachers, elders and community members, she said, who worked together to decide on the phrases and the corresponding syllabics, and to make recordings of the words being spoken aloud. 

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