The Lesson Plan By Allan Siarot-Mendoza Bautista "Teacher of the 21st century"

“Education is the key to the long-term problems of the country. If we fix basic education, we fix the long-term problems of the country. And if we fix the country’s problems, we will build a truly strong society…” – Pres. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III

Lately, when I applied for a Teacher III position in our school, one of the questions asked to me by a panelist during the interview was: What are the skills of a 21st century teacher and a learner?
I was lucky because I was able to answer his (the panelist) question knowing that I had a short background and a little reading regarding the question. Without any doubt and hesitation, I was able to answer the question confidently and was rated 5.0 as the highest score.

Let me quote and borrow (with permission) from Hernan C. Hemida (my principal’s on-going Ph.D. dissertation with the title, 21st Century Skills of Public Secondary School Teachers: Implication to ASEAN Integration). Thus, it runs as cited below.
The theorists of the 80s were concerned with teachers situating students in higher thinking tasks of thinking-doing-creating and experiencing in the real-life problems. The emerging teaching and learning theories which glide from behaviorism to constructivism that is, from externally and systematically controlling and conditioning learning to guiding construction of meaning based on the learners’ experiences, requires new teaching strategies, techniques and varied models of instructional materials.
As the 21st century education spreads worldwide, the Department of Education prepares for and cushions the impact of K to 12 in the field. Because of these changes, there is a need for schools to adapt and respond to these changes in order to help our students meet the challenges of these transformations. There is a need to overhaul our schools to come up to par with the “school of the 21st century” model. With this move comes the need to modify the traditional principles and practices of the age – old teaching profession to cope with the demands of our changing environment.
So, where do we place the teacher in the 21st century? What qualities should he/she possess?
The 21st century teacher is one who is equipped with knowledge, skills, attitudes and values which are all demand in this century – so-called 21st century skills. These are not new to all but are newly important due to its demands today. The 21st century skills include:
1. Information, Media and Technology Skills – this present generation is a digital generation, the so-called SCREENAGERS. In this case, a teacher has to be ICT-literate if he/she wants to make his/her classroom similar to the outside world of digital technology with that of the students.
2. Learning and Innovative Skills – these need critical thinking, problem solving and creative thinking skills. But, this does not mean, however, that the lower skills of recalling and comprehending cited in Bloom’s Cognitive Taxonomy are no longer necessary.
3. Communication Skills – refer to the collaboration, cross-cultural, leadership and social skills. Teachers on this matter should relate to other persons and establish ties with others. Not all teachers are leaders but the 21st century teacher is expected to be a leader. Finally, he or she should be collaborative in his or her approach, show respect for all students’ cultures (cross-cultural skill), and inspire students to develop their potential to the fullest (social skill).
4. Life and Career Skills – refer to as the teacher self-and-task management skills. A teacher has the sense of self-direction, self-control and initiative.
Lastly, a teacher of the 21st century is accountable for high standards. The “da ok ra na oie,” “pwede na, makalusot na yan,” “talagang ganyan yan,” “wala na tayong magagawa” mentalities definitely have no place in life and work style of the 21st century teacher.