Institutions are under pressure to develop 21st Century Skills and prepare students for the future of work. 21st Century Skills extend beyond foundational knowledge to competencies that are best developed through experiential learning. This presentation will showcase how technology enabled peer feedback can enhance 21st Century Skills in online education.
Higher education is at a significant transition point. On a macroeconomic level global demand and student mobility are increasing (OECD, 2017) resulting in inflated and internationalised classrooms (OECD,2010). Simultaneously, higher education itself is making the transition from elite to mass education (Milliken, 2004) and attempting to respond to the pressure of the market to focus on more instrumental outcomes (Strohl, 2006) that tend to focus on work readiness (Bandaranaike & Willison, 2015) and 21st century skills (World Economic Forum, 2016). 21st Century skills extend beyond foundational knowledge to competencies and character qualities including collaboration, creativity, leadership and adaptability (World Economic Forum, 2016) that literature suggests are best acquired experientially (Blackwell et.al, 2001; Proctor, 2011; Wilton, 2011; Nenzhelele, 2014) through the use of higher order thinking skills.
This presentation will share a practice-based research journey aimed at exploring technology enabled pedagogies for 21st Century Skill development. Collaborative Project Learning (CPL), a pedagogical framework underpinned by the experiential learning cycle (Kolb,1984) and critical reflection, will be presented as a technology enabled solution for 21st Century Skill Development. Specifically, the presentation will:
- Present the CPL framework
- Share research data that highlights the potential impact and value generation of CPL
- Invite participants to engage in the research project by trialling the CPL process in their online learning program
- Provide an opportunity for participants to trial the peer feedback loop of CPL and seek feedback on how it can be enhanced in technology enabled learning environments.