Preparing Every Child for the 21 st Century

1. Preparing Every Child for the 21st Century Ken Kay, President Partnership for 21st Century Skills APEC EdNet – Xi’an Symposium Xi’an China January 17, 2008

2. Overview • Why are 21st Century Skills so important? • What is the Framework for 21st Century Skills? • What should APEC economies do? • What are some recommendations for the APEC Education Summit?

3. Why are 21st Century Skills so important? • What is the Framework for 21st Century Skills? • What should APEC economies do? • What are some recommendations for the APEC Education Summit?

4. Why 21st Century Skills? The 21st Century is about: New Contexts New Job Skills Global Citizenship

5. Why 21st Century Skills? The 21st Century is about: New Contexts New Job Skills Global Citizenship

6. Global Competition Global Cooperation Why are 21st Century Skills so Important? There are new 21st Century Contexts Information Growth More Jobs & Careers Service Economy

7. New Context Skills Required

8. Why 21st Century Skills? Are we asking the right questions? Are our students critical thinkers and problem solvers? Are our students globally aware? Are our students self-directed? Are our students good collaborators?

9. Why 21st Century Skills? Are we asking the right questions? Are our students information and technology literate? Are our students flexible and adaptable? Are our students innovative? Are our students effective communicators?

10. Why 21st Century Skills? The 21st Century is about: New Contexts New Job Skills Global Citizenship

11. Why 21st Century Skills? The requirements of the workforce are changing

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

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

14. Why 21st Century Skills? • What applied skills and basic knowledge are most important for those you will hire with a four-year college diploma?

15. Deficient Excellent Adequate Oral Communication 9.8 65.4 24.8 Collaboration 8.1 67.3 24.6 Professional/Work Ethic 18.6 64.6 16.8 Written Communication 27.8 56.4 15.8 Critical Thinking/Problem Solving 9.0 63.4 27.6 Why 21st Century Skills? • Of the four-year graduates you recently hired, how do they rate?

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

17. Why 21st Century Skills? The 21st Century is about: New Contexts New Job Skills Global Citizenship

18. Why are 21st Century Skills so important? • What is the Framework for 21st Century Skills? • What should APEC economies do? • What are some recommendations for the APEC Education Summit?

19. P21 Members

20. 21st Century Skills Framework 20th Century Education Model

21. 21st Century Skills Framework

22. 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

23. 21st Century Skills Framework Learning & Innovation Skills • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving • Creativity & Innovation • Communication & Collaboration

24. 21st Century Skills Framework Information, Media & Technology Skills • Information Literacy • Media Literacy • ICT (Information, Communications & Technology) Literacy

25. 21st Century Skills Framework Life & Career Skills • Flexibility & Adaptability • Initiative & Self-Direction • Social & Cross-Cultural Skills • Productivity & Accountability • Leadership & Responsibility

26. 21st Century Skills Framework What’s new about 21st Century Skills? New Understanding of Coverage New Areas of Emphasis

27. 21st Century Skills Framework How do I find out more?

28. Route 21

29. Route 21

30. Route 21

31. Route 21

32. Why are 21st Century Skills so important? • What is the Framework for 21st Century Skills? • What should APEC economies do? • What are some recommendations for the APEC Education Summit?

34. What can the APEC economies do? 1. Develop a “Partnership” Focused on 21st Century Outcomes Develop a consensus among the key stakeholders on the 21st Century Skills needed by your students. Be sure the business community is included.

35. What can the APEC economies do? 2. Upgrade Professional Development Create a teacher professional development strategy for 21st century skills. http://wvde.state.wv.us/teach21/

36. What can the APEC economies do? 3. Upgrade Teacher Preparation Develop a comprehensive reform strategy for Colleges of Education and Higher Education

37. 21st Century 20th Century What can the APEC economies do? 4. Upgrade Assessments Use a full range of assessments, including high-stakes and classroom assessments, to measure 21st century skills.

38. What can the APEC economies do? 5. Invest in Research and Development • Models for blending content and skills • 21st Century skill assessments • Professional development of 21st Century skills • (e.g. U.K. Stage III ICT Literacy Assessment)

39. Why are 21st Century Skills so important? • What is the Framework for 21st Century Skills? • What should APEC economies do? • What are some recommendations for the APEC Education Summit?

40. Recommendation for APEC Education Summit 1. Focus on general recommendations for 21st Century skills.

41. Recommendation for APEC Education Summit 2. Define Global Awareness broadly Global Awareness must be broader than just second language learning.

42. Recommendation for APEC Education Summit 3. Link STEM skills to 21st Century Skills Use STEM skills to strengthen critical thinking and problem solving skills in all students. Ensure STEM students have life, career awareness, communication, and collaboration skills.

43. Recommendation for APEC Education Summit 4. Leverage the core competencies of vocational education professionals Bringing life and career awareness skills to EVERY student.

44. Recommendation for APEC Education Summit 5. Adopt a rigorous global standard of ICT literacy International standard must go beyond tech competency.

45. Recommendation for APEC Education Summit 6. Focus on potential areas of global 21st century skills cooperation: • Develop global benchmarking that emphasizes 21st century skills • Develop common resources for professional development and assessment • Share best practices • Develop a common rubric for global awareness

46. Conclusion Are our students ready for the 21st Century? Are our students critical thinkers and problem solvers? Are our students globally aware? Are our students self-directed? Are our students good collaborators?

47. Conclusion Are our students ready for the 21st Century? Are our students information and technology literate? Are our students flexible and adaptable? Are our students innovative? Are our students effective communicators?

48. Conclusion These skills should become the “design specs” for 21st Century education in every APEC economy.

49. Contact Us The Partnership for 21st Century Skills 177 North Church Avenue, Suite 305 Tucson, AZ 85701 (520) 623-2466 www.21stcenturyskills.org