6 Study-Life Skills 21st Century Students Need to Master

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  • Students need to be equipped with the right skill set to survive and thrive in the world today. The skills they have will also allow them to find success inside and outside of school.


    More importantly, with the right abilities, your kids will be able to contribute to society, be globally competitive, and help raise their overall standard of living once they become full-fledged adults.


    Must-Have Skills for Adults of the Future


    There are different study-life skills children need to develop. But to fully empower them now and in the future, you need to focus on helping them develop STEM skills. These are the individual skills required to deal with science, mathematics, engineering, and to use technology effectively.


    Enrolling your little ones in a STEM class for kids is a great way of introducing them to the STEM curriculum. These classes are also essential for helping your kids learn and develop STEM skills which they can use in school and in real life.


    But which particular STEM skills should you help your kids master? Here are the top six:



    1. Problem solving


    Students need to hone their ability to solve problems since this is a skill that they need to utilize and rely on regardless of their age, inside and outside the classroom.


    They need to work quickly to make sense of problems as they are presented. They then have to work productively to propose appropriate, feasible solutions.


    Problem solving is an important skill students need to be experts in once they enter the world of employment. No matter what field they enter, employers expect them to be able to solve problems of all kinds ranging from simple to complex matters, and sometimes even under time pressure.


    Additionally, society expects everyone to be good at problem solving. As kids grow older, they will encounter more and more problems that they typically will have to handle on their own.


    2. Critical thinking


    Critical thinking typically goes hand in hand with problem solving. When presented with a problem, students have to analyze information, evaluate and reflect on designs and strategies, and come up with new ways to solve it.


    By applying all these problem solving steps, students will become independent critical thinkers.


    Critical thinking is a skill that teachers and parents can easily hone in kids inside and outside the classroom. Holding debates and giving students opportunities to solve real-world problems through project-based learning are excellent activities that will help them cultivate their critical thinking skills.


    3. Creativity


    The ability to use various approaches, including ones that are highly creative, to look at and offer solutions to a problem is already and will continue to be a highly sought-after skill.


    Students need to be experts at looking at a problem from different perspectives and to think outside the box. They should also learn how to see mistakes and failed attempts as positive experiences which can give them additional opportunities for deeper learning.


    Asking them open-ended questions and encouraging them to reflect and explain what they did to solve the problem at hand are great exercises that teach kids how to be creative.


    4. Data interpretation


    This skill refers to a person’s ability to make decisions using scientific data. Although students can take into account their experience, gut feeling or opinions when solving a problem, they have to learn that scientific data supports the most effective solution.


    Data interpretation is a skill that will help individuals whether they choose a career in STEM or not. To make smart decisions, they will have to rely on and use data.


    Students can hone this skill when you require them to collect, analyze, and interpret data during problem solving activities. Encouraging them to do sufficient research on their projects will help them realize the importance of data gathering and interpretation as well.


    5. Flexibility


    One of the most important 21st century skills students should have, flexibility pertains to the ability of a person to adapt to new and different situations.


    This is a skill that everyone will use throughout their lives. Kids who learn how to be flexible are more likely to understand and master lessons faster and with fewer difficulties, communicate effectively and manage time more efficiently. Because of this, they will be attractive job candidates in the future.


    Allowing students to play educational apps are simple yet great exercises that will help kids learn to be more flexible. This is because most of these apps require users to shift their game play as they advance to a higher level.


    By letting kids play these games or apps, they will learn to be flexible and, at the same time, use their critical thinking skills to solve problems in order to advance in the game.


    6. Collaboration


    Lastly, big, complex challenges are seldom solved by individuals. As such, students will have to learn how to work smoothly with others in order to come up with the best solution for those types of problems.


    Collaboration, therefore, is a crucial skill that students need to master. Whether they are still at school or already working, they will constantly be placed in situations where they will have to work with others.


    In order for them to achieve their individual goals which are tied to a group or overall objective, they will need to work amicably and effectively with their teammates.



    The best advanced learning program in Dubai will also allow your kids to learn about and develop STEM skills that will help them with their studies. And by providing them opportunities to hone these abilities at home and in other settings, you will ensure your kids will be 100% ready to meet the demands of their job and the world in the future.


    To get more details about Premier Genie’s different STEM programs, visit our Courses page.