21 st Century Skills in the Business Field

1. 21st Century Skills in the Business Field Christopher Cleasby (Business Representative) September, 14, 2010

2. Business in the 21st Century • Business in the 21st Century is fast moving, and constantly changing. Companies have to deal with the customer’s wants & needs, while working through financial pressures. Innovation is required to think outside the box, to make timely changes to systems and processes. If this does not happen, the competition will take advantage of this weakness. • Employers are looking for intelligent, adaptable employees, which have the ability to cross-train, or grasp additional functional areas. This can only be accomplished if Core-Knowledge Skills remain as the highest priority, providing for a good foundation for our students to grow. • Additional emphasis on determined 21st Century Skills must be slowly embedded into the school curriculums.

3. Business Skills Required Self Awareness Personal Drive Continuous Learning Global Awareness / Cultural Acceptance Leadership Individual and Team Focus Work-Ethic Languages Systematic Planning Initiative / Creativity / Risk Taking Critical Thinking Skills Technology Literate Adaptability / Flexibility Time Management Listening Communication Skills (Written and Verbal) Self-Direction Core Knowledge (Reading, Math, Sciences, Economics, Geography, History, etc.)

4. What is Driving these Skills • Greater Competition - Increased Domestic/International • Politics (Laws, Regulations, Policies, Treaties, and Wars) • Economy • Technological Changes • Customer Behavior (Needs, Wants, and Desires) • Lean/Profit-Centric Organizations • Demographics (Population changes, Densities, Ages, etc.) • General Environmental Changes

5. My Thoughts on Next Steps • Create a realistic plan to implement into our schools • Create a high-level plan that addresses focus of core skills • Create Elementary, Middle, High School general requirements • Provide specific requirements to the grade level • Motivate the Teachers • Find key faculty members at every school who will embrace this change and champion the cause • We need to aggressively work towards obtaining local business financial support for our initiative • Added funds will only help Brevard Schools implement changes

6. Reading Materials • http://21stcenturyskillsohio.org/?p=1 • http://nble.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/21st+Century+Workplace.pdf • http://www.metiri.com/21/Metiri-NCREL21stSkills.pdf • http://www.metiri.com/21/21%20Century%20Skills%20Final.doc • http://www.metiri.com/21st%20Century%20Skills/PDFtwentyfirst%20century%20skills.pdf • http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2007/06/21st-century-business-panel.html