Comparative study of 21st Century Skills of Science Teachers and Students of Formal and Non-Formal Educational Institutes

Abstract

It is very essential for teachers to practice 21st century teaching and learning skills while teaching in order to foster these skills in 21st century learners. The focus of this study was to explore the skills of science teachers regarding 21st century skills. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted to assess the 21st century skills of science teachers. The survey questionnaire was comprised of different subscales regarding 21st century skills namely as critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity. The questionnaire consisted of 5-point Likert scale. The overall results of the study reflected that science students possess more 21st century skills than their teachers. It was recommended for science teachers of formal educational setup to practice 21st century teaching and learning skills more often as possible to inculcate 21st century skills among the students. It is also recommended that teachers of formal educational setup must enhance critical thinking and increase collaboration with students. This study is significant in the way that it reveals the current scenario of the skills of the teachers that will readily be imparted to the 21st century learners.