21st Century Skills 21st Century Content Education and business leaders identified significant emerging content areas that are critical to success in communities and workplaces. 21st Century Context Students need to learn academic content through real-world examples, applications and experiences both inside and outside of school. Students are better learners when education is relevant, engaging and meaningful to their lives--they understand subjects better and retain more information. Accountability All schools and districts are evaluated on student achievement of 21st Century Skills, the systemic incorporation of 21st Century Skills, the efficiency of educational programs, and professional development programs that include 21st Century Skills. Accountability and Adaptability Arts Assessment All assessments are learner-centered, formative, content specific, ongoing and rooted in teaching strategies and most assessments use technology. Business K-12 and private sector partners regularly work together to ensure student preparation for the workplace and the mastery of 21st Century Skills, and businesses regularly support educational programs that promote 21st Century Skills. Civic Literacy Civics Communication Skills Understanding, managing and creating effective oral, written and multimedia communication in a variety of forms and contexts. Community Community programs support learner mastery of 21st Century Skills and coordinate with school programs to promote strategies that reinforce 21st Century Skills. Community programs support learner mastery of 21st Century Skills and coordinate with school programs to promote strategies that reinforce 21st Century Skills. Content Providers Content providers create content and resources that include standards with 21st Century Skills and education leaders work with content providers to develop aligned resources, assessment and curriculum integrated with the appropriate 21st Century Tools and educational systems. Core Subjects When students work towards mastery of core subjects, their study includes 21st Century content taught in a 21st Century Context. Creativity and Intellectual Curiosity Critical Thinking and Systems Thinking Economics English Equitable Educational Opportunity 21st Century Tools are equitably distributed and there is access through homes, community centers, libraries and after-school programs, and students have access to environments that advance 21st Century Skills. Financial, Economic and Business Literacy Financial, economic and business literacy, and developing entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career options. Foreign Language Geography Global Awareness Government Higher Education and Teacher Preparation K-12 schools and higher education programs regularly work together to prepare students for college, including the integration of content and 21st Century Skills. History Information and Communication Skills Information and Media Literacy: Analyzing, accessing, managing, integrating, evaluating and creating information in a variety of forms and media. Understanding the role of media in society. Communication Skills: Understanding, managing and creating effective oral, written and multimedia communication in a variety of forms and contexts. Information and Media Literacy Skills Infrastructure and System Integration Infrastructure plans are structured to provide students, parents, teachers and administrators with seamless access to 21st Century Tools and technology in school, there is a process for handling technology support, and all technology is refreshed every three to four years. Interpersonal and Collaborative Skills Interpersonal and Self Directional Skills Interpersonal and collaborative skills: Demonstrating teamwork and leadership: adapting to varied roles and responsibilities; working productively with others; exercising empathy; respecting diverse perspectives. Self Direction: Monitoring one's own understanding and learning needs, locating appropriate resources, transferring learning from one domain to another. Accountability and Adaptability: Exercising personal responsibility and flexibility in personal, workplace and community contexts; setting and meeting high standards and goals for one's self and others; tolerating ambiguity. Social Responsibility: Acting responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind; demonstrating ethical behavior in personal, workplace and community contexts. Knowledge and Skills Administrators regularly use innovative management techniques, data-driven decision making and 21st Century Tools, and all administrators are proficient in the use of 21st Century Tools in the creation of curriculum and assessment. Language Arts Leading and Managing Learning and Teaching Learning Skills Learning Tools In a digital world, students need to learn to use the tools to master the learning skills that are essential to everyday life and workplace productivity. This proficiency is known as ICT Literacy. Mathematics Parents Parents, students and teachers collaborate to create an education that includes the mastery of core subjects and 21st Century Skills, 21st Century Tools are used to facilitate dialogue, and most parents have a mastery of 21st Century Tools Partnering Pedagogy Teachers act as facilitators and partners for teaching and learning, all teachers use adaptable and flexible teaching strategies. Planning and Allocating Resources District resource allocation plans are structured to provide students, parents, teachers and administrators with seamless access to 21st Century Tools and technology in school, at home and any other place where learning activities are envisioned. Policy Making All curriculum, educational objectives and standards are aligned with assessment and include 21st Century skills and encourage the integration of 21st Century skills into both content mastery and administrative processes. Problem Identification, Formulation and Solution Professional Development Professional development supports the application of 21st Century Skills in teaching and learning strategies and classroom management practices,and teachers use professional development to reinforce their content competency and integrate 21st Century Skills. Science Self Direction Monitoring one's own understanding and learning needs, locating appropriate resources, transferring learning from one domain to another. Social Responsibility Acting responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind; demonstrating ethical behavior in personal, workplace and community contexts. Thinking and Problem Solving Skills Critical Thinking and Systems Thinking: Exercising sound reasoning in understanding and making complex choices, understanding the interconnections among systems. Problem Identification, Formulation and Solution: Ability to frame, analyze and solve problems. Creativity and Intellectual Curiosity: Developing, implementing and communicating new ideas to others, staying open and responsive to new and diverse perspectives. Vision All administrators include the integration of 21st Century Skills as part of their overall vision for student achievement and act as role models for such integration, as well as create broad and inclusive plans that integrate 21st Century Skills into every aspect of learning, teaching and administrating. Published