The Management of Digital Technology towards Equipping Students with 21st Century Skills: Its Implementation in Lower Primary Pedagogy

Abstract

The UAE is working towards fostering the educational attainment and skills that will prepare all students to graduate with the necessary 21st century skills, that the workforce requires, and that will enable the students to be successful in their life. Several educational frameworks have attempted to define what constitutes the 21st century skills. Mutually, the 21st century skills are made up of the 6 Cs: critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity, character education and citizenship. However, the measurable benefits are only the first 4 Cs, and this paper attempts to explore how ICT tools used in the classroom foster these four skills in young learners. The research looks into the implementation of ICT in the lower primary cycle in an American curriculum school in Dubai. The research recognized the personal views of the teachers on how accessible and feasible ICT implementation is in their classrooms. The research, further, found teachers to value and implement digital tools to foster the skills of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity in the classrooms as they delivered their lessons.