21 st Century Skills in Education: What does it look like in the states?

1. 21st Century Skills in Education: What does it look like in the states? Julie A. Walker Executive Director American Association of School Librarians March 9, 2009

2. Overview • Who is the Partnership and why are 21st Century Skills so important? • What is the Framework for 21st Century Learning? • What does it look like in the states? • How can I learn more?

3. P21 Members

4. Why are 21st Century Skills so important? “This is a story about the big public conversation the nation is not having about education… whether an entire generation of kids will fail to make the grade in the global economy because they can’t think their way through abstract problems, work in teams, distinguish good information from bad, or speak a language other than English.” TIME Magazine, December 18, 2006

5. New Context Skills Required

6. Why are 21st Century Skills so important? The requirements of the workforce are changing

7. Why are 21st Century Skills so important? • What skills are most important for job success when hiring a high school graduate?

8. Why are 21st Century Skills so important? • Of the high school students that you recently hired, what were their deficiencies?

9. Why are 21st Century Skills so important? • What skills and content areas will be growing in importance in the next five years?

10. Why are 21st Century Skills so important?

12. Voter Attitudes toward 21st Century Skills The things students need to learn in school today are different than what they were 20 years ago. 80%

13. Voter Attitudes toward 21st Century Skills 21st century skills are important for schools to teach. 88%

14. Voter Attitudes toward 21st Century Skills Teaching and learning 21st century skills are very important to our country’s future economy. 99%

15. Overview • Who is the Partnership and why are 21st Century Skills so important? • What is the Framework for 21st Century Learning? • What does it look like in the states? • What can you do?

16. 20th Century Education Model

17. 21st Century Skills Framework

18. 21st Century Skills Framework Core Subjects • Economics • English • Government • Arts • History • Geography • Reading or Language • Arts • Mathematics • Science • World Languages • Civics • 21st Century Themes • - Global Awareness • - Financial, Economic, Business • & Entrepreneurship Literacy • - Civic Literacy • - Health Literacy

19. 21st Century Skills Framework Learning & Innovation Skills • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving • Creativity & Innovation • Communication & Collaboration

20. 21st Century Skills Framework Information, Media & Technology Skills • Information Literacy • Media Literacy • ICT (Information, Communications & Technology) Literacy

21. 21st Century Skills Framework Life & Career Skills • Flexibility & Adaptability • Initiative & Self-Direction • Social & Cross-Cultural Skills • Productivity & Accountability • Leadership & Responsibility

22. 21st Century Skills Framework

23. What’s new about 21st Century Skills? New Understanding of Coverage New Areas of Emphasis

24. Overview • Who is the Partnership and why are 21st Century Skills so important? • What is the Framework for 21st Century Learning? • What does it look like in the states? • How can I learn more?

25. P21 Partner States Current State Partners • New Jersey • North Carolina • South Dakota • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Arizona • Iowa • Kansas • Maine • Massachusetts

26. 5 Key State Strategies • 1. Build partnerships: • NCBCE • New Wisconsin Promise • Maine Advisory Council

27. 5 Key State Strategies • 2. Reach Consensus: • North Carolina State Board of Education Policy: • Future-Ready Students • for the 21st Century

28. 5 Key State Strategies • North Carolina • FUTURE-READY STUDENTS • for the 21st Century • The guiding mission of the North Carolina State Board of Education is that every public school student will graduate from high school, globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and prepared for life in the 21st Century. • Goals: • NC public schools will produce globally competitive students • NC public schools will be led by 21st Century professionals • NC public school students will be healthy and responsible • Leadership will guide innovation in NC public schools • NC public schools will be governed and supported by 21st Century systems

29. 5 Key State Strategies • Align education, economic development and workforce development: • Massachusetts • Competitiveness paper

30. Economy Paper

31. 5 Key State Strategies • Embed 21st Century Skills into state standards: • West Virginia • Wisconsin • New Jersey • New York • P21 Paper on 21st Century Skills and Standards (Route 21)

32. 5 Key State Strategies • 5. Embed 21st Century Skills into other areas: • Global Awareness • High School Reform • Colleges of Education • Youth Development

33. Overview • Who is the Partnership and why are 21st Century Skills so important? • What is the Framework for 21st Century Learning? • What does it look like in the states? • How can I learn more?

34. RESOURCES WEBSITE www.21stcenturyskills.org Tools & Resources State Initiatives Press releases

35. RESOURCES Route 21

36. RESOURCES Explore 21st Century Skills Maps

37. Conclusion Are our students ready for the new global economy?

38. Conclusion Are our students critical thinkers and problem solvers? Are our students globally aware? Are our students self-directed? Are our students good collaborators?

39. Conclusion Are our students information and technology literate? Are our students flexible and adaptable? Are our students innovative? Are our students effective communicators?

40. Conclusion These skills should become the “design specs” for 21st century education in every state.

41. Contact Us 177 North Church Ave. Suite 305 Tucson, AZ 85701 (520) 623-2466 www.21stcenturyskills.org