This “Framework for 21st Century Learning” is used with permission from The Partnership for 21st Century Skills .

                

21ST CENTURY STUDENT OUTCOMES

Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes

Mastery of core subjects and 21st century themes is essential for
students in the 21st century. Core subjects include English, reading or language arts, world languages, arts, mathematics, economics,
science, geography, history, government and civics. We believe schools must move beyond a focus on basic competency in core subjects to
promoting 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

Learning and Innovation Skills

Learning and innovation skills are what separate students who are prepared for increasingly complex life and work environments in the 21st century and those who are not. They include:

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

Information, Media and Technology Skills

People in the 21st century 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. To be effective in the 21st century, 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

21ST CENTURY SUPPORT SYSTEMS

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 required of them in the 21st century. The Partnership has identified five critical support systems that 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

Used with permission from The Partnership for 21st Century Skills
For more information, visit the Partnership’s website at www.21stcenturyskills.org .