Critical Thinking in the 21st Century
“To compete and win in the global economy, today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders need another set of knowledge and skills. These 21st Century skills include the ability to collaborate and communicate and analyze and address problems. And they need to rely on critical thinking and problem solving to create innovative solutions to the issues facing our world. Every child should have the opportunity to acquire and master these skills,” declared Michael Dell, the CEO of Dell Computers, Inc.
The 21st Century has brought with it a fast-paced, complex environment. In order to excel in this ever-changing world, young adults need to be capable of thinking critically to be creative, innovative and adaptable. Critical thinking – the ability to think clearly and rationally – allows one to properly understand and address issues effectively. This form of purposeful thinking is at the core of effective learning.
By thinking critically, one would be able to evaluate knowledge, clarify concepts, seek possibilities and alternatives, and solve problems using logic, resourcefulness and imagination. A critical thinker would be able to think broadly and set down the right path in facing today’s challenges at school and beyond.
However, this cognitive capability is not developed overnight. Thus, it is crucial that your child is given a proper environment in which they can flex their critical-thinking abilities, especially during their formative years. Shattuck-St. Mary’s School does just that right from the start. The school’s Early Childhood program uses a Reggio Emilia approach to learning. This is an innovative and inspiring approach that values the child as strong, capable and resilient, rich with wonder and knowledge. Students are enabled to think critically in order to understand their world and their place in it.
As they progress to higher levels of education, the students are given opportunities to become innovative, discerning and independent learners. By the time they reach high school, they will be immersed in the school’s unique ScholarShift® program that allows them to apply their learning in highly relevant, real-world contexts. With a strong framework in critical thinking, these students will be able to develop the necessary 21st Century skills that they will continue to use in college and life thereafter.
Shattuck-St. Mary’s School is a premier American boarding school with a 160-year legacy of educational excellence. The school is opening its first Southeast Asian campus in Forest City, Johor, in August. Registration for its upcoming Fall 2018 intake is now ongoing.
