What is a 21st Century Learner?

Core Subjects and ThemesPlus

Life and Career skills, learning and innovation skills and Information, media, and technology skills

Future-Ready Graduates

The 21st century high school graduate is….

• Science savvy• Financially literate• Technologically clever• Health focused• Multi-lingual• A proficient reader• A skilled mathematician• A consumer of media

And is….

• A critical thinker• Curious• Creative• A great communicator• Self-directed• A relationship builder• A strong team member• A knowledgeable global citizen

21st century student outcomes

• The partnership for 21st Century Skills developed a collective vision for what American high school graduates would need to be successful in this century.

The 21st Century Rainbow

The Foundation of the Rainbow• 21st century skills are developed to enhance the Common Core

curricula. At the base/foundation of the rainbow lay the State Standards and Assessments.

• The Curriculum and Instruction are also the basis or foundation for learning 21st century skills. Thus, they are also lay at the base of the rainbow.

• Professional Development is at the foundation to illustrate the importance to teachers’ continued growth and knowledge in their content area(s) and pedagogy.

• The final base of the rainbow is the learning environment, emphasizing that without appropriate classroom ethos, learning is not maximized.

Now think about the rainbow itself….

Core Curriculum and 21st Century Themes

• In North Carolina, that translates to the Common Core and the Essential Standards.

• “Mastery or core subjects and 21st century themes is essential for students in the 21st century. Core subjects include English, reading or language arts, world languages, mathematics, economics, science, geography, history, government, and civics.”

• (www.21stcenturykills.org)

Beyond the core subjects are the 21st century themes…

• Global Awareness• Financial, Economic, Business, and

Entrepreneurial Literacy• Civic Literacy• Health Literacy• Environmental Literacy

Where is this on the rainbow? Why?

Look at the 21st century Themes

1. Global Awareness• http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framewor

k/256

2. Financial, Economic, Business, and Entrepreneurial Literacy

• http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework/257

3. Civic Literacy

• http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework/258

4. Health Literacy

• http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework/259

5. Environmental Literacy

• http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework/830

The Top of the Rainbow

• The top of the rainbow consists of three themes:

• Life and Career Skills• Learning and Innovation Skills• Information, Media, and Technology Skills

LEARNING AND INNOVATION SKILLS

“Learning and innovation skills increasingly are being recognized as those that separate students who are prepared for a more and more complex life and work environments in the 21st century, and those who are not. A focus on creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration is essential to prepare students for the future”.

www.21stcenturykills.org (page 3)

Learning and Innovation include that ability to ….

1. Think creatively– Work Creatively with others– Implement Innovations

• http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework/260

2. Think Critically

– Reason effectively– Use Systems Thinking– Make Judgments and Decisions– Solve Problemshttp://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework/262

Learning and Innovation Skills also include the ability to…

• 3. Communicate – Communicate clearly– Collaborate with others– http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework/2

61

Information, Media, and Technology Skills

• Where is this on the rainbow?

• “People in the 21st century live in a technology and media-suffused environment, marked by various characteristics, including: 1) access to an abundance of information, 2) rapid changes in technology tools, and 3) the ability to collaborate and make individualcontributions on an unprecedented scale. To be effective in the 21st century, citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills related to information, media and technology.”

Page 5

Information, Media, and Technology Skills include..

• Information Literacy http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework/264

• Media Literacy http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework/349

• Information, Communications, and Technology Literacy http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework/350

The final section of the rainbow: Life and Career Skills

Today’s life and work environments require far more than thinking skills and content

knowledge. The ability to navigate the complex life and work environments in the

globally competitive information age requires students to pay rigorous attention to

developing adequate life and career skills.Page 6.

Life and Career Skills focus on…

• Flexibility and Adaptability:– Adapting to change– Being Flexible

– Initiative and Self-Direction:• Managing Goals and Time• Working Independently• Being Self-Directed

• Social and Cross-Cultural Skills– Interacting Effectively with others– Working Effectively with Diverse Populations

It also emphasizes ..

• Leadership and Responsibility– Guiding and Leading Others– Being Responsible to Others

– http://www.p21.org/overview/skills-framework/266

The 21st Century Rainbow

Look at the Rainbow

• Explain the foundation.• Explain why the Core subjects are the basis for

the rainbow.• Explain how you can apply Life and Career

Skills, Learning and Innovation Skills, Information, Media and Technology Skills into the Core subjects and 21st century themes you teach.