RE: 21st Century Skills

I was equally interested in what the list didn't contain as what it did. The author discusses the creation of a "new educational system" but fails to offer any compelling solutions. It is easy to point out what is wrong, much harder to create solutions. The author continues on, stating the skill set in an industrial nation are not adequate moving forward. I agree and disagree with that assertion. There are many skills that are transferable, core ideas of working hard, etc. I would contend that it is an expanding of skill sets, rather than a replacement. The author also states that he hopes it to be a resource, but as we can see it sort of died an orphan's death. Maybe sustainability of any venture of this sort should be looked at prior to just putting words on the screen with no concrete backing. I just don't feel this was very well thought out. Mission The mission of this wiki appears to be the creation of a new educational system which will prepare students for life in the 21st century. It should come as no surprise to anyone reading this wiki that our education system is geared toward an industrial nation. The skill sets necessary in an industrial nation are not adequate in 21st century America. Vision My vision for this page is to create a list of essential skills that all students should possess upon graduation from high school. Additionally, I would like to address various methods for teaching these skills, and the rationale for the necessity of these skills. I am proposing a list of skills that should be paramount at every high school in the United States. Through discussion and multiple editors I hope this page will become a valuable resource for teachers and be used as an agent of change in our public school systems. Please feel free to express your thoughts, ideas, values, and judgements in the discussion section of this page. Skills The ability to learn in context & discern information Personal and social responsibility The ability to problem solve The ability to think critically and dissect complex issues Strong communication skills (interpersonal & presentation) Know how and when to use technology efficiently The ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently The ability to visualize, reason, plan, and make decisions A thorough understanding of diverse world cultures The ability to re-train yourself (over and over) A good (positive) attitude The ability to be an independent learner