Abstract
The teaching-learning environment of the classrooms is changing due to Covid-19 pandemic and introduction of NEP 2020 which advocates flexible-learning, blended-learning and development of 21st century skills among children. Changes in the teaching-learning approach of classrooms required a skillful teacher equipped with new pedagogical skills. Keeping the same in mind, the researcher work on a qualitative study on the pre-service teachers of 3rd and 4th year (having experience of classroom teaching and Unit planning) of Bachelor of elementary education (B.El.Ed) of Aditi Mahavidyalya having a sample of 80 pre-service teachers with the aim of finding out their perception about 21st century skills as specified by CBSE under the category of Learning skills, Literacy skills and Life skills using an unstructured interview. Along with this, the second objective of this study was to identify the approach adopted by them to develop these skills among students by observing the lesson plans of teaching developed by them for their classroom teaching. At another level their classroom teaching was observed to understand the transaction of content by integrating it with particular skill sets inside the classroom. Finally, an attempt was made in the research to prepare some guidelines that can guide the new pedagogical approach that enabled pre-service teachers to develop competencies that can further help in development of 21st century skills among the students in their classroom. Data of the study was analyzed by using thematic analysis technique and themes were identified. Key findings of the study was less awareness of pre-service teachers about 21st century skills. Brainstorming, Active listening, active engagement, Peer tutoring, constructive feedback etc were the terms used to describe the approach adopted by them to develop these skills. On the basis of the study few components of a new pedagogical approach were discussed.
Keywords: learning skills, literacy skills, life skills, 21st century skills, pre-service teachers, new pedagogy, development