A New Vision for 21st Century Education 21st Century Skills as a Vision for K-12 Education: What should schools and districts do? A New Vision for 21st Century Education Ken Kay, President Partnership for 21st Century Skills FETC Orlando, Florida January 25, 2007 [Insert Presenter Name] [Insert Presenter Title & Company] [Insert Event Name] [Insert Date] PLEASE NOTE: This is only a template presentation; you may add examples and additional slides based on your audience EDUCATION COMMUNITY AUDIENCE

Overview “This is a story about the big public conversation the nation is not having about education… whether an entire generation of kids will fail to make the grade in the global economy because they can’t think their way through abstract problems, work in teams, distinguish good formation from bad, or speak a language other than English.” How to Build a Student for the 21st Century, TIME Magazine, December 18, 2006

Every student in your school or district must be: A critical thinker Overview Every student in your school or district must be: A critical thinker A problem solver An innovator An effective communicator An effective collaborator A self-directed learner Information and media literate Globally aware Civically engaged Financially and economically literate This is the design spec. for 21st Century Education So we need assessment tools that will create these results in our young people. In my travels I gave a talk in Arizona and a crusty business person stopped me right in the middle…

Overview Why are 21st Century Skills so important? What is the framework for 21st Century Skills? What should school and districts do?

Why are 21st Century Skills so Important? 5 Reasons Why are 21st Century Skills so critical? Twenty-first century skills combining technology literacy, critical thinking, creativity and mastery of core subject matter are the lifeblood of a productive workforce in today's global, knowledge-based economy

1. U.S. students must compete in a new global economy. Why 21st Century Skills? 1. U.S. students must compete in a new global economy.

2. The U.S. is falling behind. Why 21st Century Skills? 2. The U.S. is falling behind. Why are 21st Century Skills so critical? Twenty-first century skills combining technology literacy, critical thinking, creativity and mastery of core subject matter are the lifeblood of a productive workforce in today's global, knowledge-based economy

Ranking of G8 countries: 10th grade math & problem solving Why 21st Century Skills? Ranking of G8 countries: 10th grade math & problem solving OECD Ranking Problem Solving Science Reading Math 30th 25th 20th 15th 10th 5th 1st 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 14th 15th 15th The U.S. ranks 7th of the G8 countries in 10th grade math and problem solving. The U.S. also ranked below average on all of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) measured areas in 2000. These rankings worsened in 2003, except for reading which remained flat. (Note: PISA measured “problem solving” for the first time in 2003). PISA looks at the results for roughly 15-year-old students as a measure of the output of primary and secondary schools. That age is chosen because many systems begin to move students to “higher and further” education schools and colleges at age 16. PISA which is internationally sponsored by the OECD is tracking with the U.S. sponsored Trends in International Mathematics and Science (TIMSS), that also shows the U.S. slipping or just treading water relative to the countries surveyed. TIMSS measures performance at fourth and eighth grades. Finally, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) is a U.S. specific measure at fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades. The NAEP began in 1990 in response to the 1983 report entitled, A Nation at Risk, that highlighted the bourgeoning gap between U.S. students and those of competitive countries. U.S. students have shown very modest improvement under NAEP, though it has been labeled as “too easy” by critics. More importantly, since NAEP performance has begun to influence federal funding of schools, it has influenced teaching practice to the point where science is all but excluded from K–8 curriculums, as it only tests reading and math. This in turn has led teaching colleges to essentially drop science from the preparation of teachers looking to teach in elementary grades. The are fewer and fewer jobs for science teachers at those grades despite ongoing shortages at the high school level. 18th 18th 24th 24th 2000 2003 2000 2003 2000 2003 2003 Source: PISA, 2000, 2003 Courtesy of Cisco Systems

3. The nature of work is changing. Why 21st Century Skills? 3. The nature of work is changing. Why are 21st Century Skills so critical? Twenty-first century skills combining technology literacy, critical thinking, creativity and mastery of core subject matter are the lifeblood of a productive workforce in today's global, knowledge-based economy

Why 21st Century Skills? How many of your Parents & Grandparents had only one or two jobs in their lifetimes? Ask folks to raise their hands Ask psychometricians what percentage of the room raised their hands

How many jobs will a young person have today between age 18-38? Why 21st Century Skills? How many jobs will a young person have today between age 18-38? Ask folks to guess Put up their answer …10.2 jobs SOURCE: Number of Jobs Held, Labor Market Activity, and Earnings Growth Among Younger Baby Boomers: Recent Results From a Longitudinal Survey Summary, US Dept. of Labor, 2004

Critical Thinking Across Disciplines Why 21st Century Skills? 20th Century 21st Century 1 – 2 Jobs 10 – 15 Jobs Number of Jobs: Mastery of One Field Critical Thinking Across Disciplines Job Requirement: Subject Matter Mastery Integration of 21st Century Skills into Subject Matter Mastery Teaching Model: 21st Century Jobs Require 21st Century Skills Subject Matter Mastery Integration of 21st Century Skills into Subject Matter Mastery Assessment Model:

4. The requirements of the 21st Century work force are changing. Why 21st Century Skills? 4. The requirements of the 21st Century work force are changing. Why are 21st Century Skills so critical? Twenty-first century skills combining technology literacy, critical thinking, creativity and mastery of core subject matter are the lifeblood of a productive workforce in today's global, knowledge-based economy

“Are They Really Ready to Work? Why 21st Century Skills? Workforce Survey: “Are They Really Ready to Work? Released October 2, 2006, by The Conference Board, Corporate Voices for Working Families, Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Society for Human Resource Management.

Why 21st Century Skills? What skills are most important for job success when hiring a High School graduate? Work Ethic 80% Collaboration 75% Good Communication 70% Social Responsibility 63% Critical Thinking & Problem Solving 58%

Why 21st Century Skills? Of the High School Students that you recently hired, what were their deficiencies? Written Communication 81% Leadership 73% Work Ethic 70% Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Self-Direction 58%

Why 21st Century Skills? What skills and content areas will be growing in importance in the next five years? Critical Thinking 78% I.T. 77% Health & Wellness 76% Collaboration 74% Innovation Personal Financial Responsibility 72%

Why 21st Century Skills? 5. We need to prepare our students to be effective 21st Century citizens.

What is the Framework for 21st Century Skills? Ask folks to raise their hands Ask psychometricians what percentage of the room raised their hands

Overview KAREN BRUETT

21st Century Skills Framework 20th Century Education Model Our current assessment model focuses on core subjects

21st Century Skills Framework

21st Century Skills Framework Core Subjects - English Reading or Language Arts Mathematics Science Foreign Languages Civics Government Economics Arts History Geography

21st Century Skills Framework Thinking and Learning Skills Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Skills Creativity & Innovation Skills Communication & Information Skills Collaboration Skills

21st Century Skills Framework ICT Literacy Information and communications technology (ICT) literacy is the ability to use technology to accomplish thinking and learning skills: Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Skills Creativity & Innovation Skills Communication & Information Skills Collaboration Skills

21st Century Skills Framework Life Skills Leadership Ethics Accountability Adaptability Personal Productivity Personal Responsibility People Skills Self Direction (e.g. Lawrence Township) Social Responsibility

21st Century Skills Framework 21st Century Content Global Awareness Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurship Literacy Civic Literacy Health & Wellness Awareness

21st Century Skills Framework These 21st Century Skills should become the new “design specs” for 21st Century education.

What can schools and districts do? 8 Strategies

What can your school or district do? 1. Develop a Consensus Develop a consensus among the key stakeholders on the 21st Century skills needed by students in your school or district.

What can your school or district do? 2. Take a Self-Assessment Use the MILE Guide to determine where you are today.

What can your school or district do? 3. Upgrade Professional Development Create a teacher professional development strategy for 21st Century skills. Examples: Lawrence Township (Indiana) North Carolina West Virginia

What can your school or district do? 4. Imbed 21st Century Skills in core subjects Use the ICT Literacy Maps for: Math Science English Geography Social Studies (early 2007)

What can your school or district do? 21st Century Model Analytic Thinking Geographic Content Geography Global Positioning Software

What can your school or district do? 5. Upgrade Assessments Use a full range of assessments, including high-stakes and classroom assessments, to measure 21st Century Skills. Collegiate Learning Assessment West Virginia North Carolina Student Portfolios Senior Year Projects Examples:

What can your school or district do? 6. Focus on reforming high schools Focus on the results that matter in the 21st Century. Redefine rigor to include 21st Century skills.

What can your school or district do? 7. Collaborate with Community-Based Groups Collaborate with youth development and after-school programs on a “community strategy” to pursue 21st Century Skills.

What can your school or district do? 8. Collaborate with the Business Community Develop an agreement on skill outcomes and ask local businesses to provide career awareness and internships that offer opportunities to learn beyond the classroom.

TIME Magazine, December 18, 2006 Conclusion “There is remarkable consensus among educators and business and policy leaders on one key conclusion: we need to bring what we teach and how we teach into the 21st century.” TIME Magazine, December 18, 2006

Conclusion Every student in your school or district must be: A critical thinker A problem solver An innovator An effective communicator An effective collaborator A self-directed learner Information and media literate Globally aware Civically engaged Financially and economically literate This is the design spec. for 21st Century Education So we need assessment tools that will create these results in our young people. In my travels I gave a talk in Arizona and a crusty business person stopped me right in the middle…

Conclusion These skills should become the “design specs” of a 21st Century education in your school or district. We need 21st Century citizens We need 21st Century workers We need 21st Century assessments.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills Contact Us Let us know how we can help. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills 177 North Church Avenue, Suite 305 Tucson, AZ 85701 (520) 623-2466 www.21stcenturyskills.org