21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times

The new building blocks for learning in a complex world This important resource introduces a framework for 21st Century learning that maps out the skills needed to survive and thrive in a complex and connected world. 21st Century content includes the basic core subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic-but also emphasizes global awareness, financial/economic literacy, and health issues. The skills fall into three categories: learning and innovations skills; digital literacy skills; and life and career skills. This book is filled with vignettes, international examples, and classroom samples that help illustrate the framework and provide an exciting view of twenty-first century teaching and learning. Explores the three main categories of 21st Century Skills: learning and innovations skills; digital literacy skills; and life and career skills Addresses timely issues such as the rapid advance of technology and increased economic competition Based on a framework developed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) The book contains a DVD with video clips of classroom teaching. For more information on the book visit www.21stcenturyskillsbook.com.

Table of Contents:
Figures and Tables xi The Authors xv Prologue: The Search for Innovative Learning xix Introduction: Learning to Innovate, Innovating Learning xxiii The Four Question Exercise xxiv About This Book xxviii A Map of the Book xxix Part One: What Is 21st Century Learning? 1 Learning Past and Future 3 Learning a Living: The Future of Work and Careers 7 Learning Through Time 11 2 The Perfect Learning Storm: Four Converging Forces 21 Knowledge Work 24 Thinking Tools 25 Digital Lifestyles 27 Learning Research 30 The Forces of Resistance 35 The Turning of Learning: Toward a New Balance 36 The Top 21st Century Challenge 40 Part Two: What Are 21st Century Skills? 3 Learning and Innovation Skills: Learning to Create Together 45 The Knowledge-and-Skills Rainbow 47 Learning to Learn and Innovate 49 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 50 Communication and Collaboration 54 Creativity and Innovation 56 4 Digital Literacy Skills: Info-Savvy, Media-Fluent, Tech-Tuned 61 Information Literacy 65 Media Literacy 67 ICT Literacy 68 5 Career and Life Skills: Work-Ready, Prepared for Life 73 Flexibility and Adaptability 75 Initiative and Self-Direction 77 Social and Cross-Cultural Interaction 80 Productivity and Accountability 82 Leadership and Responsibility 84 Part Three: 21st Century Learning in Practice. 6 21st Century Learning and Teaching 89 Learning P's and Q's: Problems and Questions 90 Roads to Answers and Solutions: Science and Engineering 91 7 Powerful Learning: Proven Practices, Researched Results 95 The 21st Century Project Learning Bicycle 96 Creativity Through Projects 104 Evidence That Project Learning Works 107 Obstacles to Collaborative Inquiry and Design Learning 114 8 Retooling Schooling: Reshaping Support Systems 117 Shifting Systems in Sync 120 Support Systems 125 From Skills to Expertise: Future Learning Frameworks 145 9 Conclusion: Learning for Life-Building a Better World 151 Appendix A Resources 159 21st Century Skills Example Videos DVD 159 Resources from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills 161 Selected Online Resources 162 Appendix B About the Partnership for 21st Century Skills 167 What Is P21? 167 What Does P21 Do? 168 How the P21 Learning Framework Came into Being 170 Appendix C 3Rs x 7Cs = 21st Century Learning 175 Acknowledgments 179 Notes 183 References 187 Credits 197 How to Use the DVD 199 Index 201