21st Century Skills: How can you prepare students for the new Global Economy?

Kathy EnnisP-21 Task Force

New BedfordOctober 2008

Agenda

• Why are 21st Century Skills so important?

• What is the Framework for 21st Century Skills?

• What can *you* do?

Why are 21st Century Skills so important?

© 2006 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Cisco PublicCharles Fadel 4

“We are currently preparing students for jobs and technologies that don’t yet

exist… in order to solve problems that we don’t even know are problems yet.”

“Did you know”, widely circulated YouTube posting

Workforce Requirements Survey

Source: “Are they really ready to work ?” report by the Conference Board, P21 et al

% Important (9-10)

% Doing Well (9-10)

Computer and tech skills 87% 48%

Reading comprehension 85% 22%

Critical thinking and problem solving 80% 18%

Written communications 78% 17%

Oral communications 77% 16%

Ethics and social responsibility 75% 15%

Creativity and innovation 73% 19%

Teamwork and collaboration 73% 20%

Life-long learning and self-direction 72% 12%

Media literacy 67% 15%

Mathematics 66% 26%

Global awareness 66% 13%

Leadership 66% 17%

Science 62% 20%

There is a substantial gap between how important voters perceive each skill and how well they believe schools are actually teaching that skill.

Nine out of 10 voters agree more of these skills need to be incorporated into the classroom.

Of respondents believe these are important

skills that schools can and should be able to incorporate into their

curriculum.

88%

National Poll – Universal Agreement

Of respondents feel it is important to our country’s future economic success

that our children learn these 21st Century skills, such as computer and

technology skills, critical thinking, self-direction,

and communication skills.

99%

Why are 21st Century Skills so Important?

The Realities of the New Global Economy

• Global Competition• Global Cooperation• Growth in New Information• Growth in Pace of Change• Increased Computerization and Off-Shoring• More Jobs and Careers• Increase in Service Jobs

What is The Framework for 21st Century Skills?

P21 Members

21st Century Skills Framework

21st Century Skills Framework

21st Century Skills Framework

Core Subjects• Native Language/Reading• World Language(s) incl.

English• Arts • Geography • History• Mathematics• Science• Government/Civics

21st Century Themes• Global Awareness• Financial, Economic,

Business and Entrepreneurial literacy

• Civic Literacy• Health Literacy

21st Century Skills Framework

Learning & Innovation Skills

• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving• Creativity & Innovation• Communication & Collaboration

21st Century Skills Framework

Information, Media & Technology Skills

• Information Literacy• Media Literacy• ICT (Information, Communications & Technology) Literacy

21st Century Skills Framework

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills for

EVERYONE

Innovation and Creativity Skills

Life and Career Skills for EVERYONE

Information, Media and Technology Skills

What’s new about 21st Century Skills?

New Understanding of Coverage New Areas of Emphasis

What can you do?

“Think Globally, Act Locally” René Dubos

1. Support your District’s initiatives

2. Stay current on P21 developments

Conclusion

“There is remarkable consensus among

educators and business and policy leaders on one key

conclusion: we need to bring what we

teach and how we teach into the 21st

century.”

TIME MagazineDecember 18, 2006

Contact Us

Let us know how we can help.The Partnership for 21st Century

Skills177 North Church Avenue, Suite 305

Tucson, AZ 85701(520) 623-2466

www.21stcenturyskills.org