Thursday, March 12, 2009

WHAT SKILLS DO OUR STUDENTS NEED IN ORDER TO BE SUCCESSFUL AFTER HIGH SCHOOL?

1 comment:

  1. We cannot discuss needed skills without first discussing 21st Century Skills. It will be imperative that our students be prepared for life after high school but preparation now looks very different than when we were graduating. Below are some comments taken from the 21st Century Skills website: http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php

    It's worth taking a look.

    Core Subjects and 21st Century Themes
    Mastery of core subjects and 21st century themes is essential for students in the 21st century. Core subjects include:
    English, reading or language arts
    World languages
    Arts
    Mathematics
    Economics
    Science
    Geography
    History
    Government and Civics
    In addition to these subjects, we believe schools must move beyond a focus on basic competency in core subjects to promoting understanding of academic content at much higher levels by weaving 21st century interdisciplinary themes into core subjects:

    Global awareness
    Financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy
    Civic literacy
    Health literacy

    Global Awareness
    Using 21st century skills to understand and address global issues
    Learning from and working collaboratively with individuals representing diverse cultures, religions and lifestyles in a spirit of mutual respect and open dialogue in personal, work and community contexts
    Understanding other nations and cultures, including the use of non-English languages

    Financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy
    Knowing how to make appropriate personal economic choices
    Understanding the role of the economy in society
    Using entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career options

    Civic Literacy
    Participating effectively in civic life through knowing how to stay informed and understanding governmental processes
    Exercising the rights and obligations of citizenship at local, state, national and global levels
    Understanding the local and global implications of civic decisions

    Civic Literacy
    Participating effectively in civic life through knowing how to stay informed and understanding governmental processes
    Exercising the rights and obligations of citizenship at local, state, national and global levels
    Understanding the local and global implications of civic decisions

    Civic Literacy
    Participating effectively in civic life through knowing how to stay informed and understanding governmental processes
    Exercising the rights and obligations of citizenship at local, state, national and global levels
    Understanding the local and global implications of civic decisions

    Health Literacy
    Obtaining, interpreting and understanding basic health information and services and using such information and services in ways that are health enhancing
    Understanding preventive physical and mental health measures, including proper diet, nutrition, exercise, risk avoidance and stress reduction
    Using available information to make appropriate health-related decisions
    Establishing and monitoring personal and family health goals
    Understanding national and international public health and safety issues

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