21st Century Learning Design – Introducing 21CLD

21st Century Learning Design (21CLD) is a professional development framework that empowers educators to enhance their teaching practices by integrating 21st-century skills into their classrooms using digital technologies. Let’s explore the key aspects of 21CLD:

Purpose and Modules:
- The 21CLD learning path comprises eight modules specifically designed for K-12 educators and school leaders.
- These modules offer practical guidance on how to infuse 21st-century skills into teaching and learning activities.
Learning Objectives:
- Understanding 21st Century Learning Design: Educators delve into the concept of 21st-century learning design. They explore innovative teaching practices that foster the development of essential 21st-century skills.
- Knowledge Construction Dimension: This module introduces educators to the dimension of knowledge construction. It focuses on helping learners build deep knowledge that can be transferred and applied effectively.
- Collaboration Dimension: Educators learn to design activities that enhance collaboration skills among students. The module introduces different levels of collaboration, including sharing responsibility, making substantive decisions together, and working interdependently.
- Real-World Problem Solving and Innovation Dimension: Educators define real-world problem solving and explore classroom activities that prepare learners with 21st-century skills.
- Skilled Communication Dimension: This module introduces the concept of skilled communication. Educators learn to design activities that help young people develop effective communication skills.
- Self-Regulation Dimension: Educators explore the concept of self-regulation and discover how to design learning activities that foster this crucial skill.
- ICT for Learning Dimension: Highlighting the importance of using information and communication technologies (ICT), this module guides educators in transforming learning experiences and creating new ICT products.
Practical Implementation:
- Throughout the learning path, educators engage with videos, reading materials, rubrics, and anchor lessons.
- By actively participating in coding anchor lessons and redesigning their learning activities based on the 21CLD rubrics, educators empower students with the skills needed for life, work, and active participation in our rapidly evolving world ¹.