Teaching 21st-century skills

February 18, 2007 2:47 PM

The national debate about public education and U.S. economic competitiveness tends to focus too exclusively on the number of engineers and scientists we churn out every year. Important as home-grown engineers and scientists may be to our future national prosperity, education and business leaders alike realize that the skills our students will need for success in the new century encompass much more than only math and science. Many also agree that current education policies are giving short shrift these new skill demands. An important and engaging breakout session at LFA's summit will examine what these skills are and what kinds of policies and practices can promote them in our nation's public schools.

The session, will feature people leading the effort to promote 21st-century skills in our classrooms. Karen Cator, an Apple executive who chairs the Partnership for 21st-Century Skills, will join participants in defining these skills. Dr. Rick Melmer, South Dakota's education secretary, will discuss state policies that can support 21st-century skills in public schools. Finally, Dr. Nicole Pinkard, a professor and researcher at the University of Chicago's Center for Urban School Improvement, will examine strategies for making 21st-century skills instruction a reality in the classroom. Apple has generously agreed to sponsor the session

If you plan to participate in this session, you might want to check out the Partnership for 21st-Century Skills website beforehand. You can find it here. The Partnership has done excellent work in identifying 21st-century skills, demonstrating how such skills can be aligned with standards, reviewing existing option for assessing 21st-century skills, and examining implications for state policy.