Education Expert Emphasizes Integration of STEM and 21st Century Learning Skills to Prepare Students for Future Work

Asian College of Teachers (ACT) conducted a YouTube live session on ‘Integrating STEM into 21st Century Teaching’ on 27th March, 2023. The guest speaker at the session was Captain Shaji Sebastian, Founder & Mentor, International STEM Research, who explained the ways in which experts in the field of education are highlighting the importance of incorporating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and 21st century learning skills in classrooms to prepare students for future work, which is expected to be highly automated.

In the YouTube live session, Captain Shaji Sebastian emphasized the need for educators to develop the 4c's of 21st century learning: critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. The session focused on how to integrate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robots, drones, augmented reality, and virtual reality into the classroom to promote interactive and immersive learning experiences.

According to Captain Sebastian, aligning teaching methods with emerging technologies will not only engage students but also help them develop essential skills needed to succeed in the future workforce. He highlighted the importance of experiential learning and interdisciplinary curriculums that incorporate STEM subjects along with humanities and social sciences. He also talked about project-based learning which involves students to work on real-world problems and projects, giving them practical experiences and opportunities to apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios. In addition, Captain Sebastian highlighted the role of assessments in evaluating students' progress and how technology can be used to provide personalized feedback to students. Overall, the session provided practical strategies for educators to incorporate STEM education and 21st century learning skills into their teaching practices.