Around the United States, there has been a resounding cry for education to do a better job preparing students with skills needed to be successful in the 21st century, specifically in the areas of math, science, and technology. In March, Education Week published a special report titled "STEM: The Push to Improve Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics." Educational Leadership's November 2007 issue focused on "Making Math Count," and the February 2008 issue emphasized "Teaching Students to Think." As these articles show, U.S. students' foundational skills are lacking.
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (the Partnership) is a collaboration of educators, business and community leaders, and policymakers working to define the skills needed for the next generation of workers and foster development of those skills in students.
According to the Partnership's Web site (www.21stcenturyskills.org), "There is a profound gap between the knowledge and skills most students learn in school and the knowledge and skills they need in typical 21st century communities and workplaces. To successfully face rigorous higher education coursework, career challenges, and a globally competitive workforce, U.S. schools must align classroom environments with real-world environments by infusing 21st century skills."
ASCD joined the Partnership because this important collaboration aligns with our mission of educating the whole child. ASCD's Whole Child Compact calls for students to be not only safe and healthy, but also challengedacademically andsupported. Engaging students in today's classrooms means teaching them with tools that are relevant to their lives and their futures.
Defining the skills necessary for success in the next generation is often an elusive task for educators because many jobs have not yet been invented. What skills will be needed for learners to be competitive in the global marketplace? How can we equip students for success in a world we can only envision? As one reads through the 21st century skills listed by the Partnership (see page 4), it becomes clear that there are many more areas of literacy needed in the 21st century than have been traditionally taught in classrooms. For educators, the challenge becomes how to weave these skills into the academic setting in an engaging way.
Participating in the Partnership for 21st Century Skills is just one way ASCD is reaching out to other groups to inform our work. By constantly seeking best practices, ASCD gives our members the benefit of the Partnership's collaborative efforts. In addition, the Partnership's Framework for 21st Century Learning is useful as an organizer at the local grassroots or affiliate level when discussing the essential question, "What do we mean by challenged, engaged learners?" Helping our schools and communities understand the need for teaching new forms of literacy and preparing students for the next generation of innovation and creative thinking is essential. The Partnership's framework is an important tool in building the whole child dialogue.
Our children deserve it. Our future demands it.
