What are 21st Century Skills? In this case, 21st Century Skills are a set of skills, knowledge and expertise students should know as they leave school. A new report, 21st Century Skills Education and Competitiveness, has just been released that helps to describe why these skills are so important.
Ken Kay is president of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, an organization dedicated to promoting a new vision of what students need to be successful in a globally competitive economy. Mr. Kay lives in Tucson and has been a frequent speaker at AZTEA conferences. An Arizona summit was held in the fall 2007 to make recommendations for our state. The report from the meeting is called Teaching and Learning for the 21st Century: Report and Recommendations of the Arizona Summit on 21st Century Skills.
The following is taken from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills website:
21ST CENTURY STUDENT OUTCOMES:
The elements described in this section as “21st century student outcomes” (represented by the rainbow) are the skills, knowledge and expertise students should master to succeed in work and life in the 21st century.
1. Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes
2. Learning and Innovation Skills
- Creativity and Innovation Skills
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
- Communication and Collaboration Skills
3. Information, Media and Technology Skills
- Flexibility & Adaptability
- Initiative & Self-Direction
- Social & Cross-Cultural Skills
- Productivity & Accountability
- Leadership & Responsibility
21ST CENTURY SUPPORT SYSTEMS:
The elements described below are the critical systems necessary to ensure student mastery of 21st century skills. 21st century standards, assessments, curriculum, instruction, professional development and learning environments must be aligned to produce a support system that produces 21st century outcomes for today’s students.
2. Assessment of 21st Century Skills
3. 21st Century Curriculum and Instruction
4. 21st Century Professional Development
5. 21st Century Learning Environments
Please visit http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/ for more information.
Listen to Ken Kay’s presentation to the Florida Educational Technology Conference in January 2007: Promoting 21st Century Skills
21st Century PowerPoint Presentation Slides handout- in PDF format.
Here is a good article about 21st century skills: 21st Century Skills: Will Our Students Be Prepared? By Judy Salpeter
