Preparing Our Students for the 21st Century

Matt Cwalina

Director of Curriculum and Instruction (Science and Technology)

Norristown Area School District

August 5, 2009

What We Know Today…

• In order to compete in a 21st century global economy, Pennsylvania needs a highly-educated and proficient workforce.

• By the year 2010, the U.S. will face a shortage of 12 million qualified workers for the fastest-growing job sectors including health care and computer technology. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)

• This will make it imperative that all youth - both enrolled and out of school - have the skills and education to meet this shortage.

Fortune 500 Characteristics

1970

Writing 1

Computational Skills 2

Reading Skills 3

Oral Communication 4

Listening Skills 5

Personal Career Development

6

Creative Thinking 7

Leadership 8

Goal Setting/Motivation 9

Teamwork 10

Organizational Effectiveness 11

Problem Solving 12

Interpersonal Skills 13

2000

10

12

13

4

5

6

7

8

9

1

11

2

3

• What similarities and differences do you notice?

• How does this differ from a traditional view of instruction?

• What does this information mean for our students? Our Teachers? The Community?

Observations

Partnership for 21st Century Learning: 21st Century Skills

Who is the Partnership for 21st Century Learning?The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, the nation’s leading

advocacy organization focused on infusing 21st century skills into education, comprised of some of the following…

•Adobe•Apple•AT&T•Educational Testing Service•Ford Motor

•Intel•Junior Achievement•Microsoft•Sesame Street•Verizon

Partnership for 21st Century Learning: 21st Century Skills

• Digital-Age Literacy: Basic, Scientific, Economic, Technological, Visual, Information, Multicultural and Global Awareness, Health

• Inventive Thinking:

Partnership for 21st Century Learning: 21st Century Skills

Adaptability and Managing Complexity, Self-Direction, Curiosity, Creativity, Risk Taking, Higher-Order Thinking and Sound Reasoning

• Effective Communication: Teaming and Collaboration, Interpersonal Skills, Personal Responsibility, Social and Civic Responsibility, Interactive Communication

Partnership for 21st Century Learning: 21st Century Skills

• High Productivity:

Partnership for 21st Century Learning: 21st Century Skills

Prioritizing, Planning and Managing for Results, Effective Use of Real-World Tools, Ability to Produce Relevant, High-Quality Products

How We Can Help Parents

• Discuss course selections

• Discuss “future plans” often

• Encourage your children to take rigorous course work, especially during their senior year

• Tap into resources about college and future planning

““As for the future, your task is As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it”not to foresee it, but to enable it”- Antoine de Saint-Exupery- Antoine de Saint-Exupery