21st+Century+Skills

What does a 21st century lesson plan look like? The Partnership for 21st Century Skills provides a framework for implementing 21st century themes, skills, and tools into the classroom. To view the framework, click [|here]. A 21st Century lesson plan would address a state standard through the "lens" of a 21st century theme. The manner in which we teach this standard would facilitate the 21st century skill that a student will need to succeed in our global economy. This graphic shows how a teacher may look through one of the 21st century themes to teach a state English standard. The teacher will have students work in groups of four to create a wiki that has pages which compare and contrast the ideas of the Montegues and Capulets in the novel, Romeo and Juliet. The students will then also create pages in their wiki in which they compare and contrast two modern day cultures' ideals.

In this manner, students are learning to collaborate through the use of the a wiki, they are analyzing and finding informtion, and finally creating something new. They are fostering many of the 21st century skills while addressing a single English standard. By comparing the ideas to modern day cultural differences, the lesson is also addressing the 21st century theme of global awareness. A lesson may facilitate one or many of the 21st century skills, themes, and tools while addressing a standard.

21st Century Core Subjects are:
 * English, reading or language arts
 * World languages
 * Arts
 * Mathematics
 * Economics
 * Science
 * Geography
 * History
 * Government and Civics

21st Century Themes are:
 * [|Global awareness]
 * [|Financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy]
 * [|Civic literacy]
 * [|Health literacy]

Digital Literacy: The ability to use digital technology, communication tools or networks to locate, evaluate, use and create information.

Video: A Vision of K-12 Students Today media type="custom" key="1852841"

MILE Guide to utilizing 21st Century Skills