The Reference Desk, using available evidence and research, provides quick-turnaround responses to questions submitted by education stakeholders around the Northeast and Islands Region. Every Friday, REL-NEI highlights one or two questions submitted to its Reference Desk.
Question of the Week
What Does Research Say About 21st Century Skills?
Previous Reference Desk Digests have covered a number of topics regarding innovative literacy strategies. This week’s Digest presents information on educating students to prepare them to be competitive in the 21st century. As one resource states: “Although definitions vary, most lists of 21st century skills include those needed to make the best use of rapidly changing technologies; the so called ‘soft skills’ that computers can’t provide like creativity; and those considered vital to working and living in an increasingly complex, rapidly changing global society” (Walser, 2008; see below). The resources presented here include descriptions of curricular standards, policy initiatives, and materials to help education stakeholders plan and implement these changes.
Question
What does the research say about 21st century skills?
Research Synthesis
Reference Desk researchers found resources suggesting that “there is broad consensus among educators, policymakers, business leaders and the public that schools today must do a better job of preparing young people for the challenges and expectations of communities, workplaces and higher education. Moreover, there is broad consensus about the knowledge and skills that are essential in the world today—and about the educational model that would make schools more relevant to the world again as well. This model emphasizes that students today need 21st century skills to guarantee America’s success tomorrow” (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2003; see below).
Publicly Available Resources
- The Road to 21st Century Learning: A Policymakers’ Guide to 21st Century Skills. 2003; Washington, DC: Partnership for 21st Century Skills; 28 pages.
This resource identifies recommendations for encouraging the use of 21st century skills education: “The starting point for paving this bold path in education is to infuse existing standards for core academic subjects and assessments with the learning skills and 21st century tools, context and content that should be emphasized more in most schools today. This powerful combination of knowledge and 21st century skills will offer all students the opportunity for a more meaningful and relevant educational experience.
To realize this opportunity, the Partnership recommends that states take these steps, starting now:
- Adopt state standards that incorporate 21st century tools and learning skills as part of the No Child Left Behind eighth-grade technology literacy requirement.
- In addition to the technology literacy requirement, embed ICT (information and communication technologies) literacy into current standards, curricula and assessments for core subjects.
- Create state and local infrastructure that supports a 21st century education.
- Provide professional development that is strategically aligned to support the goal of offering a 21st century education to all students.
- Engage educators, employers, parents and policymakers in an ongoing dialogue that provides recommendations and advice about 21st century education” (page 3).
- Transforming Education for the 21st Century: New Pedagogies that Help All Students Attain Sophisticated Learning Outcomes. February 2007; Dede, C.; Raleigh, NC: North Carolina State University Friday Institute of Educational Innovation; 57 pages.
From the introduction: “This Friday Institute White Paper delineates a conceptual framework for understanding the challenges and opportunities involved in such a transformation of schooling and describes an innovative strategy by which new pedagogies based on emerging immersive media can aid all students in attaining sophisticated 21st century understandings and performances” (page 3). The report provides an overview of skills as well as a discussion of the River City curriculum that supports the development of these skills.
- Teaching 21st Century Skills: What Does It Look Like in Practice? September/October 2008; Walser, N.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Education Letter; 4 pages.
In this newsletter article, the author describes 21st century skills as “those needed to make the best use of rapidly changing technologies; the so-called ‘soft skills’ that computers can’t provide, like creativity; and those considered vital to working and living in an increasingly complex, rapidly changing global society” (page 1). The article goes on to provide specific instructional examples that can help students develop 21st century skills.
The Reference Desk also these organizations and resources to be helpful in learning more about 21st century skills:
- Partnership for 21st Century Skills
According to the website: “The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is a national organization that advocates for 21st century readiness for every student.” The site provides links to a framework and resources that address curriculum and links to resources and professional-development affiliates that support learning/teaching of skills for the 21st century. See also: Curriculum and Instruction: A 21st Century Skills Implementation Guide.
- The Gateway to 21st Century Skills
According to the website: “The Gateway expands educators’ capability to access Internet-based lesson plans, instructional units and other educational materials in all forms and formats. The Gateway’s goal is to improve the organization and accessibility of the substantial collections of materials that are already available on various federal, state, university, non-profit, and commercial Internet sites. The Gateway is a nonprofit consortium membership organization serving educators and trainers at all levels in the USA and around the world.”
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