| Partnership
for 21st Century Skills |
| |
The Partnership
for 21st Century Skills is a unique alliance of education,
business and government leaders working to fully address
the education needs and challenges of work and life in the
21st century.
Learning
for the 21st Century is the result of a lengthy and in-depth
dialogue on improving education for the 21st century that was
initiated by the Partnership. The Partnership reached out to
hundreds of educators, academics, business leaders and employers
to determine a vision for learning in the 21st century, to
reach consensus on the definition of 21st century skills, and
to develop tools to aid communities in its implementation. |
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SIX
KEY ELEMENTS OF 21ST CENTURY LEARNING:
|
| |
| 1. |
EMPHASIZE
CORE SUBJECTS
Knowledge and skills for the 21st century must be built on core subjects.
No Child Left Behind identifies these as English, reading or language
arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics, government,
economics, arts, history and geography. Further, the focus on core
subjects must expand beyond basic competency to the understanding
of core academic content at much higher levels. |
| 2. |
EMPHASIZE
LEARNING SKILLS
As much of students need knowledge in core subjects; they also need
to know how to keep learning continually throughout their lives.
Learning skills comprise three broad categories of skills: |
| |
a. |
information
and communication skills, |
| |
b. |
thinking
and problem-solving skills, |
| |
c. |
and
interpersonal and self-directional skills. |
| 3. |
USE
21ST CENTURY TOOLS TO DEVELOP LEARNING SKILLS
In a digital world, students need to learn to use the tools that
are essential to everyday life and workplace productivity. They need
to appropriately use digital technology and communication tools to
access, manage, integrate and evaluate information, construct new
knowledge, and communicate with others in order to participate effectively
in society. |
| 4. |
TEACH
AND LEARN IN A 21ST CENTURY CONTEXT
Students
need to learn academic content through real-world examples, applications
and experiences
both inside and outside of schools. Students
understand and retain more when their learning is relevant, engaging
and meaningful to their lives. In the global, networked environment
of the 21st century, student learning also can expand beyond the four
classroom walls. Students must reach to their communities, employers,
community members and, of course, parents to reduce the boundaries
that divide schools from the real world. |
| 5. |
TEACH
AND LEARN 21ST CENTURY CONTENT
Three significant emerging content areas that are critical to success
in communities and workplaces are 1) global awareness; 2) financial,
economic and business literacy; and 3) civic literacy |
| 6. |
USE
21ST CENTURY ASSESSMENTS THAT MEASURE 21ST CENTURY SKILLS
States
and districts need high-quality standardized tests that measure students’ performance
of the elements of a 21st century education. A balance of assessments
including standardized testing and classroom
assessments are needed. To be effective, sustainable and affordable
assessment at all levels must use new information technologies to
increase efficiency and timelines. |
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