Get Connected - Fall 2007 - (Page 7)

The realities of the new global economy as well as an outcry from employers and the general public point to the necessity of preparing young people with the new skills they need to compete and work in the 21st century. In a 2006 a study of employers titled Are They Really Ready to Work?, employers said that the future U.S. workforce is “woefully ill-prepared for the demands of today’s (and tomorrow’s) workforce,” and they cited 21st century skills as “very important” to success at work. Here are a few examples of what employers pointed out: voters say that the kind of skills students need to learn to be prepared for the jobs of the 21st century is different from what they needed 20 years ago. Yet a majority of Americans say that schools need to do a better job of keeping up with changing educational needs. Among the other key findings: • Eighty-eight percent of voters say they fully interconnected in the process of 21st century teaching and learning. Question: What skills are most important for job success when hiring a high school graduate? Work Ethic 80% Collaboration 75% Good Communication 70% Social Responsibility 63% Critical Thinking & Problem Solving 58% believe that schools can and should incorporate 21st century skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving skills, computer and technology skills, and communication and self-direction skills into their curriculum. • Sixty-six percent of voters say they believe that students need more than just the basics of reading, writing and math; schools also need to incorporate a broader range of skills. • Fifty-three percent say they believe schools should place an equal emphasis on 21st century skills and basic skills. Clearly, both the feedback from employers and American voters demonstrate the growing need to expand what our schools are teaching to keep pace with the demands of our modern workforce. 21st century support systems (represented by the pools below the rainbow) are the critical systems necessary to ensure student mastery of 21st century skills. Twenty-first century standards, assessments, curriculum, instruction, professional development and learning environments (essential conditions) must be aligned to produce a support system that produces 21st century outcomes for students. All of this is designed to ensure every student is equipped with 21st century skills and becomes: • • • • • • • • • • A critical thinker A problem solver An innovator An effective communicator An effective collaborator A self-directed learner Information- and media-literate Globally aware Civically engaged Financially and economically literate Question: What applied skills and basic knowledge are most important for those you will hire with a four-year college diploma? Oral Communication 95.4% Collaboration 94.4% Professional/Work Ethic 93.8% Written Communication 93.1% Critical Thinking/Problem Solving 93.1% What Does the Framework for 21st Century Skills Look Like? The Partnership has developed a framework that presents a holistic view of 21st century teaching and learning that combines a focus on 21st century student outcomes (a blending of specific skills, content knowledge, expertise and literacies) with innovative support systems to help students master the multi-dimensional abilities required of them in the 21st century. The key elements of 21st century learning are represented in the following graphic. The graphic represents both 21st century skills student outcomes (as represented by the arches of the rainbow) and 21st century skills support systems (as represented by the pools at the bottom). While the graphic represents each element distinctly for descriptive purposes, the Partnership views all the components as Question: What skills and content areas will be growing in importance in the next five years? Critical Thinking 78% I.T. 77% Health & Wellness 76% Collaboration 74% Innovation 74% Personal Financial Responsibility 72% Similarly a new, nationwide poll of registered voters reveals that Americans are deeply concerned that the United States is not preparing young people with the skills they need to compete in the global economy. An overwhelming 80 percent of Want to Learn More? In its commitment to helping education leaders implement 21st century teaching and learning, the Partnership is developing an on-line, one-stop-shop for 21st century skills-related information, resources and community tools called Route 21. Set to debut on the Web on November 7, Route 21 will showcase how 21st century skills can be supported through standards, professional development, assessments, and teaching and learning. Look for Route 21 resources on the Partnership Web site. 7

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Get Connected - Fall 2007

Get Connected - Fall 2007 NSBA Social Networking Study A Letter From the President Network Services for Libraries 25th Annual TETC Conference Partnership for 21st Century Skills E-mail Archiving Social Networking 101 Ramp Up for E-Rate Season News From HECC Notes From the CTO

Get Connected - Fall 2007

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