WK2 2

Learning and Innovation Skills – 4Cs

Key Subjects – 3Rs and 21st Century Themes

Critical thinking • Communication Collaboration • Creativity

21st Century Student Outcomes and Support Systems21st Century Student Outcomes and Support Systems

Framework for 21st Century Learning The Partnership for 21st Century Learning (P21) has developed a vision for student success in the new global economy.

One Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20001 202-312-6429 www.P21.org

2 1 S T C E N T U R Y S T U D E N T O U T C O M E S To help practitioners integrate skills into the teaching of core academic subjects, P21 has developed a unified, collective vision for learning known as the Framework for 21st Century Learning. This Framework describes the skills, knowledge and expertise students must master to succeed in work and life; it is a blend of content knowledge, specific skills, expertise and literacies.

Every 21st century skills implementation requires the development of core academic subject knowledge and understanding among all students. Those who can think critically and communicate effectively must build on a base of core academic subject knowledge.

Within the context of content knowledge instruction, students must also learn the essential skills for success in today’s world, such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaboration.

When a school or district builds on this foundation, combining the entire Framework with the necessary support systems—standards, assessments, curriculum and instruction, professional development and learning environments—students are more engaged in the learning process and graduate better prepared to thrive in today’s global economy.Publication date: 05/15

One Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20001 202-312-6429 www.P21.org

Key Subjects and 21st Century Themes

Mastery of key subjects and 21st century themes is essential to student success. Key subjects include English, reading or language arts, world languages, arts, mathematics, economics, science, geography, history, government and civics.

In addition, schools must promote an understanding of academic content at much higher levels by weaving 21st century interdisciplinary themes into core subjects:

• Global Awareness • Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy • Civic Literacy • Health Literacy • Environmental Literacy

Learning and Innovation Skills

Learning and innovation skills are what separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments in today’s world and those who are not. They include:

• Creativity and Innovation • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving • Communication and Collaboration

Information, Media and Technology Skills

Today, we live in a technology and media-driven environment, marked by access to an abundance of information, rapid changes in technology tools and the ability to collaborate and make individual contributions on an unprecedented scale. Effective citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills, such as:

• Information Literacy • Media Literacy • ICT (Information, Communications and Technology) Literacy

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, such as:

• Flexibility and Adaptability • Initiative and Self-Direction • Social and Cross-Cultural Skills • Productivity and Accountability • Leadership and Responsibility

2 1 S T C E N T U R Y S U P P O R T S Y S T E M S Developing a comprehensive framework for 21st century learning requires more than identifying specific skills, content knowledge, expertise and literacies. An innovative support system must be created to help students master the multi-dimensional abilities that will be required of them. The Partnership has identified five critical support systems to ensure student mastery of 21st century skills:

• 21st Century Standards • Assessments of 21st Century Skills • 21st Century Curriculum and Instruction • 21st Century Professional Development • 21st Century Learning Environments

For more information, visit P21’s website at www.P21.org.

Member

Organizations

• AFT

• American Camp

Association

• Apple Inc.

• Asia Society

• Bahcesehir K-12 Schools

• Cable Impacts

Foundation

• The College Board

• Common Sense Media

• Crayola

• Destination Imagination

• Duck Learning

• EdLeader21

• EF Education First

• ENA

• Fisher-Price

• Ford Motor Company

Fund

• Future Problem Solving

Program International

• Gale Cengage Learning

• The Goddard School

• Intel Corporation

• Learning.com

• LEGO Education

• National Board for

Professional Teaching

Standards

• National Education

Association

• PBS

• Pearson

• Project Management

Institute Educational

Foundation

• US Fund for UNICEF

• VIF International

Education

• The Walt Disney

Company