Partnership for 21st Century Skills

The web site Partnership for 21^st Century Skills serves as a great resource for educators and the public which addresses the shift in the way students learn today and the necessary tools and skills that are needed to successfully prepare students for our new globally collaborative and competitive workplace individuals are now being exposed to.

I believe that the information contained on  the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills site focuses on many adaptations that are needed to update our classrooms and support differences found in the way our students learn today.  The mission of this group is to repair the disconnections between what children are being taught in school and what skills and standards are required as they enter into the business world. Technology has transformed the way in which we communicate and complete modern day tasks.  Partnership for 21^st Century Skills recognizes the importance of these advancements in the world and they are committed to help educators go beyond teaching just core subjects by integrating technological tools within their classroom as a part of the overall lesson plan.  Additionally, within this 21^st Century Learning Framework, activities such as project-based collaborative instruction for students create an interactive arena that allows them opportunities to produce, construct, discover, and ask questions in order to draw their own conclusions.  According to the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills, these collaborative exercises, which hone skills in global awareness, civic literacy and more, will better prepare them for the many challenges they will face upon entrance to the workforce.

The site also includes specific state information as well.  This section describes particular state plans for 21^st Century Learning Skills standards, assessment, professional development, and advisory councils.  In the state of New Jersey they describe their overall vision for educational reform in public schools.  They plan to focus attention on key elements geared to the 21^st century skills.  As an educator in New Jersey I believe that we have been slowly attaining this particular goal.

I believe their would be positive implications as a result of the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills vision for both students and teachers by weaving these particular themes within instructional core content areas.  Teachers would become more knowledgeable in technological and global strategies to assist the student to excel in global awareness with their knowledge of the various ranges of literacies each interface has to offer to better prepare them for success in the workforce.