CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 21ST CENTURY LEARNING IN THE PRACTICE OF GENERAL EDUCATION OF LATVIA

Abstract

Today’s rapid socio-economic changes are closely correlated with the development of education, identifying the need for new educational content and new kind of collaboration in education. In theoretical knowledge the term “21st century learning” and its content reflects the essence of changes in the context of collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking. The goal of the research is to identify the characteristics of 21st century learning in the practice of general education of Latvia. The analysis of theoretical literature and qualitative analysis of documentation has been used. A case study of the practice of general education of Latvia based on the theoretical knowledge was implemented using content analysis of the self-assessment reports of educational institutions. Main characteristics of the 21st century learning in the institutions of general education were identified by structuring the chosen content units. Self-assessment reports of the institutions of general education of Latvia demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the core and content of the 21st century learning. Educational institutions focus on the development of the main categories of the 21st century learning, such as collaboration and communication, creativity and critical thinking.