21st century skills are need of the hour !!! Very true. Let’s take schooling as an example. Today we have big schools where qualified teachers come and teach. But in the next 10 years, I am seeing none other than robots teaching. And further in another 10 years, not only robots will teach but a new era of digitalized learning will come in place. We will be wearing a headset all the time and learning in the metaverse. Learning aside lets take daily activities for example driving a car. We won’t have drivers, we won’t need them. We will only have 1 thing that is self driving cars. This is not only for our personal cars but for taxis too. You call an uber. A self driving tesla will come to pick you up. You select your destination, and you reach to your desired place.
How is all of this possible? The hard truth is that we won’t have teachers, drivers, carpenters, potters or electricians. There is a possibility of not even having doctors. But how ? By Coding, AI and Robotics. The world will revolve around these three things only in the coming years and it has started. This new era has started. Only people who know Coding, AI or Robotics will be employed.
So how does this tell us that 21st century skills are the need of the hour ? We need to know how to code, how to do robotics, how to build AI for a living in the future. These 21st century skills are not known to so many people and may lead to huge amounts of unemployment. So let’s start now. Let’s start learning these 21st century skills, let’s make ourselves ready for the future, let’s start now.
DEBATE
~~~ FOR THE MOTION ~~~
Schools Shut. Classes suspended. The pandemic hits with unprecedented fury. Innovative pedagogy ... digital literacy suddenly become the buzz words. Kudos to teaching fraternity, they do not let the course of education derail. But, the fact remains, that a large majority had to upgrade their skills to adapt, to online education.
Good morning, everyone. Worthy audience, that was just a peak to substantiate that 21st Century Skills like critical thinking, problem solving, and digital literacy ... only to name a few ... are an absolute necessity. You do need them to be prepared for a change; to foster innovation ... to in fact, prepare future ready citizens whose portfolios match up to the expectations of prospective employers ... citizens, who can deal with today’s digitalized world.
By the way, do you know, why NEP 2020 envisages a paradigm shift in education? ... to empower learners to relate their learning with real life issues. How engaging ... how relevant school education would be with skill labs, field trips, joint projects and case studies! Imagine, just imagine playing musical chairs to solve a coding problem in computer programming class! Ah! Need I tell you how thrilled I am!!!
Members of the house, the true purpose of education is preparation, for life. But, can it be achieved if learners are not trained to be participative! ... if their survival tools do not include flexibility, adaptability and global and cultural awareness! ... and most importantly if they do not imbibe social responsibility and ethics?
Before I conclude, let me assert ... the entire populace including home makers, vendors, grocers, ... everyone ... needs to learn 21st century skills, to keep pace with rapidly evolving world and volatile economy. Well, I am ready and raring for an education that will make me future ready. Are you ready and raring too?
~~~ AGAINST THE MOTION ~~~
Did humankind hit 21st century on a magic carpet? Or do you really think that evolution from darkness of caves to fire, to cultivation, to tools, to wheels, to gun powder, to inventions, vaccination and explorations were up with ‘abracadabra’ !!! You are mistaken if you think so.
Good morning everyone, Distinguished jury and worthy audience, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, communication, curiosity, collaboration and a repertoire of knowledge have very much been behind every advancement till date. None of these skills, I must say, is specific to the 21st century. Why this clamor then in education and business section about the dire need of these skills today! ! Well, my opponent may say these skills are crucial to prepare future ready kids. Yes, employment and economic growth are vital and desirable. But to my mind these skills envisage a perfect individual with a specific set of skills - be it communicative, creative, digital literacy or global awareness. But don't forget every individual is unique with its own set of aptitude, interests & inherent talent; that you cannot fit everyone in the same mould.
I strongly contend that in the name of 21st Century skills, you are preparing future ready robots working 24x7 in a stressful competitive work culture leading to a host of health disorders. No wonder suicide cases are rising and happiness index is falling. Why not let individuals bloom in their own unique way! Why not let them paint a picture, tame the game with a camera, sing a mellifluous melody, compose a soulful symphony, hit boundaries in playfields or dance their way to a happy life!!
I would also like to add its more vital to ensure that in the midst of rising decibles for 21st century skills; ethics, morality and spirtual and core values like peace, contentment, kindness, empathy, integrity and fair play do not get drowned.
To conclude, a high happiness quotient coupled with a peaceful, contented, stress free life, I believe, are much more desirable in today’s fast paced, technology driven complex world.
And yes I may not learn coding but I must know how to fix a bulb or drive a nail in the wall.
~~~
Saion Gupta
Founder - Coding & Robotics for Kids | 10xCoderKids
