21st Century Skills

Globalization has increased diversity in the workplace.  Cultural awareness has become a very important business tool.  Understanding other cultures promotes communication and productivity.  It is important to listen and learn from your coworkers.  Put cultural knowledge to work and learn from each other in relevant situations.

Cultural awareness is key in a 21st century workplace.  21st Century Skills has emerged as the leading organization focused on infusing 21st century skills into education.  They have partnered with the business sectors, educators, and policymakers to determine the 21st century skills needed to compete in a highly competitive global market.  In order to compete as a nation, our country, states, and communities realize that there needs to be a fresh approach to public education. They all agree that the key to improving 21st century skills begins in the public school system. In order for the country to compete they need to address every aspect of education from pre-k-12 to post-secondary and adult education.  Everyone needs to be prepared, students, educators, and communities.  In addition of preparing students in reading, math, and science, students need to learn to think critically, solve open-ended questions, communicate, collaborate, and be creative. 

I chose psychology as my career and psychology falls in the service industry.  Communication is probably the most important skill that I will need.  So I chose to get a BA in psychology. I felt it was important to learn a second language, so I chose Spanish.  Arkansas has seen a large increase in Hispanic population.  I realized that I would be more marketable if I could read and translate in Spanish.  I will also be better able to help people if I am able to understand their needs.

Most schools and colleges have already implemented 21st century skills in their curriculum.  Most teachers require students to work collaboratively, communicate, and work with technology.  Many of my classes have incorporated Angel to enhance the course.  Most high school classes have incorporated technology in their discipline.  As part of a collaboration between 21st Century Skills, educators, businesses, and legislators, most public schools are adding keyboarding at a younger age so that when students get to high school, they will have better keyboarding skills.

My career choice requires me to communicate, collaborate, educate, use critical thinking skills, and be culturally sensitive.  I started acquiring these skills in grade school.  I am still using these skills today, and these skills will pay off in my future.

Cultural Lenses

  

It is true.  We all wear cultural lenses.  Culture is defined as a shared knowledge, beliefs, symbols, and interpretations within a human group.  We see, interpret, and evaluate many things from our perspectives through our own cultural lenses within our own human group. According to Nomadic Mike, it is because we are culturally ignorant.  It is true some people don't know what is going on outside their own borders, and they are afraid to wander outside those boundaries because the world is a scary place.  I am guilty of this also.  You can wear your cultural lenses in your own community and state also.


How some people view the world is based on cultural misunderstandings.  Florence Ferreira of Toastmasters International points out that these misconceptions are universal and that other cultures wear their own lenses.  However in order to obtain a deeper cross cultural understanding, you must be willing to take the glasses off to develop a better deal with differences. 


In order to view the world around us differently, we have to develop a realization that our own traditions, values, procedures, and social practices are different from those of other cultures.  Florence Ferreira does a great job describing the differences in the values and social practices of Americans than those of the shopkeeper in the Peruvian Andes.  Some people don't even take their cultural lenses off in their own communities.  It is hard for me to even imagine how my grandparents lived in my own community.  They too, had different social practices than we do today.  Times have changed.  Technology has changed the way we communicate and work. 


I'll be honest and admit that I'm a little afraid about our trip.  I have been to Mexico twice so it won't be my first time to leave the states.  It will however, be the first time I've ever been without my family.  I have travel anxiety, too.  Flying for the first time, budgeting money and time, and making sure I am culturally sensitive to others.