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As of late, a lot of attention has been drawn to the study skills that are most relevant to a student in current times. These conversations usually refer to the study skills that are most relevant for the 21st century. So, which are most important?

We will be exploring certain questions that revolve around 21st century study skills and 21st century students, however it is important to have a quick overview and think about which skills are most crucial.

 Believe it or not, 21st century students need more than just academic skills.

There are numerous frameworks produced by organizations that are concerned with this. Based on the work done by experts, students these days need more than just “reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic.”

These days’ students find that the need soft skills are arguably more important than ever.   

You can make the case that soft skills have always been very important. This is a big reason as to why students should focus on study skills (these fall in the soft skills category)

A company’s recruitment VP recently told a group of job seekers that the top 4 skills he noticed would lead to success in a high-pressure work environment included: “Planning and preparation” (this refers to your organization strategies), “Flexibility” (your ability to adapt in multiple situations), “Breaks” (they play a key role in a comprehensive productivity strategy), and “Emotional Intelligence” (this is clearly not a study skill but is important nonetheless and falls in the “soft skills” category).

Students will find that it is not just one study skill but study skill areas that matter the most. That being said, there are 3 major areas where students should be proficient in;

1. First, organization skills.

Every student would hope to eventually get a job with their education. This skill is crucial because you would not be able to get much work done in a timely manner without quality organizational skills. We have often seen that things get misplaced, co-workers get frustrated and in the worst case, get fired. The truth about the matter is that most problems could be avoided with good organizing. So, now is the perfect time to hone your skills.

2. Second, academic skills.

This relates to how quick you can learn, this is important as we live in a world that is constantly changing. It has been an agreed upon consensus that when is so constant, students would need to be flexible, have the ability to adapt and learn.

Keeping this in mind, it is safe to say that students of the 21st century need to be able to learn in a constantly changing environment.    

3. Third, a well-defined, internal motivation.

You might wonder whether this is really a skill, it is included nonetheless because of its importance as internal drive or motivation will always outlast any parental or educator desires. Students can be motived but in the long term, success will be nearly entirely dependent upon the student’s own personal motivation to do what needs to be done.