A Universally Accessible Self-assessment Gamified Framework and Software Application to Capture 21st Century Skills

Abstract

In our increasingly complex lives, 21st Century or Transversal Skills such as collaboration, communication, problem solving, and critical thinking are seen as key to the development of successful individuals. In response to the changing needs and expectations of industry, this focus on 21st Century Skills has begun to filter down into universities and other higher and further educational institutions and is now becoming an important factor in the K-12 educational sector. These skills are often implicit in lessons and so can be difficult for students to identify and express. Their implicit nature also means that they are not traditionally taught to students and so measuring or assessing the development of these skills can be problematic. Furthermore, the development of these skills is not constrained to the classroom environment but occurs in many different contexts and environments. Additionally, the recognition of these individual student learning needs in and around these skills along with the ability of these skills to assist in the accessibility of the classroom is a challenge to be met. To address these challenges we have developed SkillTrack! framework and learning application for mobile devices such as tablets that brings together innovative pedagogy and supportive technology to promote the practice, development and self-assessment of 21st Century Skills in the K-12 space. The effectiveness of SkillTrack! as a teaching and learning tool for 21st Century Skills has been evaluated in an authentic classroom context; the final evaluation of the application validates not only the concept and design premises but also the need for such an application.