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