21st Century Skills: A Framework for Success

Somer Lewis, MA NBCTTeacher-In-Residence

UNCW Watson School of Education

21st Century Skills: How do we get there?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_ehGLqzBVM

Framework BackgroundUpdated March 2007

Identifies the learning needs of the “future”

Describes the skills, knowledge and expertise students must master to succeed in work and life

Identifies the outcomes and support systemsTime honored practice and theory with more recent

research on the modern workplace- these skills are not “new”

Source: “The Intellectual and Policy Foundations of the 21st Century Skills Framework.” Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Student Outcomes for the 21st CenturyStudents need to obtain:Learning and Innovation SkillsInformation, Media and Technology SkillsLife and Career SkillsCore Subjects and 21st Century Themes

Learning and Innovation Skills

Creativity and InnovationCritical Thinking and Problem SolvingCommunication and Collaboration

Information, Media and Technology SkillsInformation LiteracyMedia LiteracyInformation, Communications and

Technology Literacy

Life and Career SkillsFlexibility and AdaptabilityInitiative and Self-DirectionSocial and Cross-Cultural SkillsProductivity and AccountabilityLeadership and Responsibility

Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes (Skills?)Global AwarenessFinancial, Economic, Business and

Entrepreneurial LiteracyCivic LiteracyHealth LiteracyEnvironmental Literacy?

“We believe schools must move beyond a focus on basic competency in core subjects to promoting understanding

of academic content at much higher levels by weaving 21st century interdisciplinary themes into core subject areas”

21st Century Support Systems21st Century StandardsAssessment of 21st Century Skills21st Century Curriculum and

Instruction21st Century Professional

Development 21st Century Learning Environments

How does the framework fit into our teaching in North Carolina?

Does this mean that 21st century skills supersede content?

“Every public school student will graduate from high school,

globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and prepared for life in the 21st

Century.”

-Mission of the NC State Board of Education, August 2006

North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards: Standard IIITeachers know the content they teach

3.4 Teachers make instruction relevant to students

Skills incorporated into teaching deliberately, strategically, and broadly

Help students understand the relationship between the NCSCOS and 21st century outcomes

Skills and Content: A MarriageCan you memorize

all that you ever need to know in order to be a productive and engaged citizen in the 21st Century?

How many students do you know who can memorize and “regurgitate” any amount of information and yet do not have a true understanding of content?

The MarriageWe must teach the skills that students need

to be independent learnersEvery teacher should be a teacher of skills in

his/her content areaTeachers should use content as a foundation

for teaching 21st Century skills

SO… What are the specific skills that have been identified according to grade level?

How do we interpret the Framework for 21st Century Learning?

What are the Challenges?Brainstorm: What are the

challenges that you will meet as a teacher when trying to implement strategies for

teaching 21st Century skills?

Some Challenges to ConsiderParadigm ShiftNeed 21st Century pedagogy to teach skills

effectively alongside basic literacy and numeracy skills

Do skills complement the core curriculum?Technology harnessed in a much more fundamental

and effective wayAccountability and assessment

Source: “Equipping Every Learner for the 21st Century.” Developed by the Centre for Strategic Education, Cisco Systems, Inc., and McKinsey & Co.

Other ChallengesRisk of this being a fad?Separation of skills and knowledge can’t happen!

Ways of knowing information are much more important than the information itself <- such notions contradict what we know about teaching and learning

We don’t know how to teach collaboration and innovation the way we know how to teach long division!

Better Teaching: Convert from teacher-led to student-centered

Source: “21st Century Skills: The Challenges Ahead” Andrew J. Rotherham and Daniel Willingham

Self EvaluationHave I taught my students well enough so

they can develop a deep understanding of a topic without my being present?

Can my students successfully apply what I’ve taught them to new situations without my being present?

Have I taught my students skills so they can read, comprehend, analyze, and evaluate information to function without my being present?