A lot has changed since we grew up. For us, the parents of today, the 3R’s (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic) were sufficient skills to get through the course of life. But we realise that these aren’t even the bare minimum as we nurture the kids in the 21st century. Our children need to master the 21st century learning skills in order to thrive in today’s world.
Curious Times is an educational and news website for children and young readers. We understand that 21st century learning skills have to be imparted to our children for their holistic development. We have curated our educational platform accordingly. We provide safe and educative content through curated news for children and theme-led engagement.
We believe this is a place for our children to learn and adapt themselves to the 21st century competencies through systematic exposure to high-quality content. Besides, our content is curated and moderated to ensure that every child is progressing and learning 21st century skills every day.
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What are 21st century skills?
The cornerstones of 21st century skills are the 4 C’s – Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration and Communication. These 21st century interdisciplinary themes are also being weaved increasingly into academics. Many schools and teachers are beginning to recognize the importance of teaching students the 21st century education skills.
Critical Thinking and Creativity
Critical Thinking is an important 21st century skill that encompasses effective reasoning and problem-solving. Critical thinking does not develop overnight. It gets built over a period of time. Non-fiction content and real-life happenings make the base for critical thinking and reasoning. Science and mathematics, if not put into application, cannot build reasoning and problem solving. Curious Times presents the daily news to children in interesting ways. It encourages young readers to think beyond the facts. The news for children along with the articles on a whole range of general knowledge and global awareness topics helps them to critically evaluate their surroundings and the world at large.
Creativity is a fundamental 21st-century skill. If not encouraged in children, it may wane away. Curious Times provides a platform for children to express their creativity through art, articles and reviews. Our ‘ME- My Expressions’ section gives children the opportunity to express their thoughts on global issues, business ideas, inspirations, book and movies reviews, art and science projects and much more. Few children have an opportunity in their lives to get their work published or shared with larger community of students and peers. Hence, Curious Times provides the necessary confidence to students by giving every child a platform to share their work and learn from peers.
Collaboration and Communication
Communication and collaboration are imperative 21st century learning skills because technologies have enabled access across space and time. Social and cross-cultural skills are important to imbibe in our kids who are connected and in communication with people from across the globe. Curious Times enables children to be exposed to both international and national news and global themes. It helps in opening their minds and imagination to authentic, succinct and relevant information. Communication skills require an in-depth understanding of what is happening around the world. Curious Times provides fact-based content on a variety of subjects. Curious Times also conducts a range of activities and events, which builds strong written and verbal communication among children.
Collaboration skill is proving to the most important skill. Competitive behaviour is being replaced by an attitude of collaboration. Key attributes of collaboration are empathy, understanding perspectives, cooperation and responsiveness. Children can develop confidence by sharing their thoughts, views and work with the Curious Community across the globe. This confidence helps them overcome the hesitation of putting their thoughts together for group discussions, essays, etc. Children are not limited to their local connections but are exposed to a national and a global network. They view other students’ work, thoughts and ideas and learn varied culture in Curious Times. This makes them excellent collaborators.
Why are 21st century skills in education important?
The lines between disciplines have blurred because of advances in technology.
We are preparing our children for technologies that don’t exist now and for jobs that can’t be imagined today.
In fact, half of what we learn becomes obsolete in less than six years, as the world is changing rapidly.
This means we need to build in our children the ability to learn and re-learn throughout their lives.
As parents, we are aware that our children cannot necessarily get a rounded and complete learning from text books alone. We have to build our children’s social consciousness, general awareness and empathy, which are essential in, not only a good life for them but also for building great communities and great nations.
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Incorporating global themes in 21st century learning skills
The world is getting smaller as communication and dissemination of information and knowledge are becoming easier. The themes are centred on global awareness, financial, economic, entrepreneurial, civic, health and environmental literacy. These global themes are a part of Curious Times content, as we cover current affairs, news reports and articles on a wide range of general knowledge subjects.
Most importantly, global awareness is heightened as we bring to our young readers, not only current news but also knowledge on environment, sustainable development, space, national and international maps, eminent leaders, flora, fauna, endangered species, performers, artists, professions and so on.
How can parents help children acquire 21st century competencies?
Children learn a lot by interacting and observing parents and family at home. Parents who understand the need of wholesome learning for their children are better equipped to guide their kids to acquire the 21st century competencies. Curious Times assists parents in this endeavour. It acts as a tool to help children with 21st century learning skills in a systematic and contextual way.
Spending 10 minutes in the day reading Curious Times with your child can do wonders. It can help you make them understand news, information and sensitive topics that are presented in relatable ways on our children’s news website. This enhances their critical thinking and leads them to express opinions and ideas. The next step is communicating these ideas in collaboration with parents, friends or peers. In fact, Curious Children can communicate and contribute to dinner table conversations and around prime time news.
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So, how can Curious Times help students, parents and teachers unlock the 21st century learning skills? Let us find out!
Curious Times and 21st century skills for students
Our articles are curated according to reading grade levels and devoid of the dramatic sensationalism of news reports. We know that reading current affairs can be boring and difficult for children. We take care to create articles that are engaging, simple, short and relatable.
Our articles are curated by educators, parents and subject matter experts. They research and provide contextual references to the news. Building concepts is an important 21st century learning skill, and we understand that news cannot be understood until our early readers can appreciate the underlying concepts.
Our curated news helps improve reading, removes fear of non-fiction reading and gives children the confidence that comes with information and knowledge.
To help retention, we use short sentences in our articles and explain the concepts bulleted points. We mark our core news in bold to draw the child’s attention and retention. A quiz at the end helps in reinforcing the article with the added element of fun.
Our tongue-twisters, jokes and a new word each day help make learning fun and enjoyable.
Our articles are curated according to reading grade levels and are devoid of the dramatic sensationalism of news reports. We know that reading current affairs can be boring and difficult for children. That the reason we take care to keep the articles engaging, simple, short and relatable.
Curious Times and 21st century skills for parents
Most of us parents studied in the 20th Century. Learning was a lot easier back then, and it was also easier to get jobs. However, with technological advancements, we are also adjusting to the 21st century skills required for doing our jobs. The 4 C’s – Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration and Communication – are equally important for us, whether we run a business, work as employees or manage our homes. As parents, we have to continuously upgrade ourselves and stay informed on what’s happening around the globe and explore opportunities for our children.
Parents are continuously looking for information online in order to bring news and information to their children,. Curious Times can act as a one-stop destination! Because it educates parents and provides targeted information, parents can save time searching for the right information. It also serves as a safe platform, and can be offered to children without fear of exposing them to inappropriate language or content.
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Curious Times and 21st century skills for teachers
Although we are an educational and news website for children and young readers, we also share the vision of teachers and educational institutes when it comes to imparting 21st century education. We are aware that teachers and schools need all support to integrate 21st century skills in education. Curious Times is happy to be that pillar of support by helping and arming teachers and institutes with curated news and information. It is an ideal platform to boost general knowledge among students and get them thinking to form an opinion, as well as keep an open mind. Our quizzes and ME – My Expressions section also help educational institutes gauge the students’ retention, understanding and communication skills. Curious Times thus assimilates the 21st century skills for students and duly helps in acquiring 21st century skills for teachers too.
A moderated safe platform for tweens and teens
The Curious Times platform provides 100% safe content and space for children to express themselves and develop peer learning. The aim is to foster the 21st century skills for students who are growing up in a world that is fast-paced in innovation, technology, collaboration and communication. We at Curious Times hope to play our part in helping parents nurture the future generation – A generation that is armed with a lot more technology, information and exposure to the world but who also need our guidance and encouragement to realize its full potential.
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This is how Curious Times helps parents and children
1. Help for Parents
At Curious Times, we filter news articles for children based on their age and we relay facts without any sensationalism. Articles are simple, relatable, well explained and, with our quiz at the end, a lot of fun! Moreover, articles on delicate issues are reviewed by multiple editors. Curious Times is an invaluable tool to keep children informed and help parents to talk about sensitive topics.
10 Minutes of daily reading
Help your child read Curious Times for just 10 minutes a day and it can work wonders! It helps improve reading, removes the fear of non-fiction that many children have (easing them in later years into adulthood), keeps them informed and improves their confidence (because being aware makes them discuss news with other children). A mere 10 minutes on CT a day helps you bring up a confident little thinker.
Simple and Easy-To-Read
Reading current affairs can be boring and difficult for kids. We know. We take care to keep articles engaging, simple and relatable. Sentences are short. Difficult words and concepts are explained.
Better Retention
To help retention, we not only keep articles and sentences short, and explain concepts, but also present the entire article in bulleted points! This breaks up lengthy paragraphs and is easier for the child to digest. Also, we mark core parts of the news in bold in order to draw the child’s focus and aid retention. Lastly, a quiz at the end helps in reinforcing the article, with the added element of fun!
Dining Table Conversations
Prime time news is often the dinner companion in most homes. Parents can include children during discussions, ask children about their perspective and help them express their point of view based on reliable facts. This helps children participate in dinner conversations every day, improving not just their thought-skills but also their sense of being valued and their self-confidence.
Why our Parents us!
CT is the most important link between the real world and academics. I am seeing my daughter becoming knowledgeable about a lot of things. News is no longer boring.
Suman, Parent, Kochi
Veer and I read the articles together. They are written in simple, easy to understand English. The point wise writing helps kids retain what they’re reading. The little quiz at the end ensures they’ve paid attention too. I, personally, like the name curioustimes, and how it is ‘non sensational’. Now, as a parent I trust CT