What are 21st Century Skills?

Brought to you by Faria Education Group

The foundation of a well-rounded education has, for generations, been built upon what are known as the 3 R’s of Education: Reading, Writing, and ‘Rithmatic. While the prioritization of the 3 R’s is uncontested in many institutions still today, this terse summary of educational priorities coined in the beginning of the 19th century no longer represents the breadth of knowledge and skills that are required to functionally participate in society. Contemporary scholarship and conventional wisdom agree that students must be equipped with 21st century skills in order to be prepared for the post-secondary world.

The integration of...21st century skills in the curriculum is not only beneficial to students and teachers, but also necessary to prepare our youth for their future careers. (Alismail, 2015)

This guide provides recommendations for integrating 21st Century Skills, as outlined in a framework by the Partnership for 21st Century Learning, into PreK-12 curriculum maps. The suggestions in this guide are intended to inspire creativity and innovation of curriculum designers while honoring the expertise and work that has been dedicated to designing curriculum across subject areas. Many 21st century skills outlined in P21’s framework are already embedded in sets of standards, such as the Common Core State Standards, which have been adopted as is or as an adapted version and used as well established components of curriculum design in many institutions (Alismail, 2015). Much of the work of integrating these skills into curriculum maps will involve reflecting on the current curricula to identify where skills are already being taught and which still need to be incorporated, in addition to determining when and where the most appropriate placement is within each unique curriculum map.

As you engage in the work of integrating these skills into your curriculum, ground your work in the overarching goal of all of these skills: to prepare students for success in life and work after your course, in the 21st century.