DEVELOPING 21ST CENTURY SKILLS IN SCHOOL CHILDREN: CRITICAL, CREATIVE, AND COLLABORATIVE THINKING

Аннотация:

This study examines the development of 21st century skills — critical, creative, and collective thinking — among schoolchildren in a modern educational environment. As global societies undergo rapid technological and socio-economic transformations, students' ability to analyze information, generate innovative ideas, and work effectively with others has become a prerequisite for future academic and professional success. Using a mixed qualitative methodology, the study includes a systematic review of relevant literature, classroom observations, and semi-structured interviews with teachers in several subject areas. The results of the study show that research-based learning, open-source problem solving, creative assignments, and structured group activities significantly develop students' higher-order thinking. Critical thinking is reinforced through analytical questions and evidence-based reasoning.; Creative thinking occurs when students are given autonomy and opportunities to experiment; and collaborative thinking develops through well-designed collaborative structures. Despite these advantages, effective implementation is hampered by limited teacher training, rigid curricula, time constraints, and assessment systems focused primarily on memorization. The study concludes that meaningful 21st century skill development requires a student-centered pedagogy supported by systemic reforms, including updated curricula, teacher training, and assessment models that evaluate cognitive processes and teamwork. These results contribute to the global educational discourse and provide practical recommendations for educating students' readiness for the future.