21st Century Skills

by Bellanca, James

• ISBN13: 9781935249900
• ISBN10: 1935249908
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-07-01
• Publisher: Solution Tree

Summary

21st Century Skills: Rethinking How Students Learn is the fifth book in the Leading Edge¿ series. The Leading Edge series unites education authorities from around the globe and asks them to confront the important issues that affect teachers and administrators¿the issues that profoundly impact student success. The experts contributing to this anthology do not prescribe one method to transact change. They embrace the mission, trusting that teachers and administrators¿the true change leaders¿will venture to the Leading Edge to embrace the challenges and opportunities that will guarantee the success of their students. 21st Century Skills examines a daunting challenge today¿s educators face: how to equip students with the skills to succeed in the twenty-first century. Many critics oppose the idea of teaching 21st century skills on the grounds that emphasizing skills such as critical thinking and problem solving will erode the teaching of important content. The contributors to this volume contend that both knowledge and skills are needed, and they are interdependent. The authors of this book know from experience that effective teaching involves having students use skills to acquire knowledge. 21st Century Skills introduces the 21st century skills movement, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, and the Framework for 21st Century Learning. The chapters seek to flesh out the vision established by the Partnership by identifying key issues that contribute to the dialogue. The contributors explore three overarching questions: 1. Why are the skills listed in the Framework for 21st Century Learning needed for learning in the future? 2. Which skills are most important? 3. What can be done to help schools include these skills in their repertoire so that twenty-first century learning results?

Author Biography

James Bellanca is the founder and CEO of International Renewal Institute, Inc. His extensive experience as classroom teacher, alternative school director, professional developer, and intermediate service center consultant has given him a wide scope of kowledge to share with educators in his workshops, trainings, and presentations. Jim Bellanca has worked with educational leaders in Chicago, New York, New Jersey, and Michigan, and also with school districts to design programs that promote critical thinking and collaboration to increase academic performance among all children, including high risk populations.

Table of Contents

About the Editors	p. vii
Preface	p. ix
Foreword: 21st Century Skills: Why They Matter, What They are, and How We Get There	p. xiii
Introduction	p. 1
Five Minds for the Future	p. 9
New Policies for 21st Century Demands	p. 33
Comparing Frameworks for 21st Century Skills	p. 51
The Role of Professional Learning Communities in Advancing 21st Century Skills	p. 77
The Singapore Vision: Teach Less, Learn More	p. 97
Designing New Learning Environments to Support 21st Century Skills	p. 117
An Implementation Framework to Support 21st Century Skills	p. 149
Problem-Based Learning: The Foundation for 21st Century Skills	p. 175
Cooperative Learning and Conflict Resolution: Essential 21st Century Skills	p. 201
Preparing Students for Mastery of 21st Century Skills	p. 221
Innovation Through Technology	p. 243
Technology Rich, Information Poor	p. 275
Navigating Social Networks as Learning Tools	p. 285
A Framework for Assessing 21st Century Skills	p. 305
Afterword: Leadership, Change, and Beyond the 21st Century Skills Agenda	p. 327
Index	p. 349
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