21st-century skills in the era of AI

The York Press team was honoured to be a part of the Educational World Forum (EWF), the largest gathering of education and skills ministers in the world. Read this article to find out what we are taking away from EWF and how you can implement it in your classroom. 

How AI is shaping the future of education has become an obligatory topic in any educational conference or conversation. Although this was no different at EWF, the discussions provided us with a fresh perspective. This year’s theme asked how we can maintain focus on ‘learning’ and ‘building human relationships’ alongside developing an understanding of AI. 

When we put too much focus on the capabilities of AI or fear the challenges it may bring, we risk losing sight of the purpose of education. The conversations at EWF reminded us to maintain focus on what is at the core of our mission at York Press – educating generations through global collaboration. As education undergoes a technological transformation, we must not forget the socio-emotional skills that cannot be digitised. The OECD has coined these 21st-century skills, which will be increasingly valued in future generations.

York Press has consistently prioritised the integration of 21st-century skills into our products. Every course fosters critical thinking and collaboration through activities that empower students to work together, consider different perspectives, and reach their own conclusions. We work to highlight global culture, sustainability, and global citizenship values within our content. Our inclusion of self-assessment strengthens learners’ metacognition and resilience. Research shows that skills such as teamwork, resilience, and curiosity will help students navigate a transformed future, both inside and outside the classroom. We believe these skills and values will also empower learners to be better global citizens who are inspired to have a positive impact on the world.

This does not mean that York Press is ignoring the positive potential of AI. Undoubtedly, one of the largest advantages of AI is its time-saving capabilities for educators. Our teacher trainers have proactively worked to guide teachers on how educational AI applications can enhance and streamline their activities, presentations, and assessments. This gives educators more time to focus on what they are really passionate about, building strong and supportive relationships with their learners that will impact them for a lifetime.  EWF consolidated the importance of employing a balanced perspective when it comes to AI and education. It is important that, while we as educators explore the exciting contributions of AI, we do not lose sight of the core purpose of educating future generations.