2121stst Century Survival Century Survival Skills Skills

Adapted from Adapted from The Global Achievement GapThe Global Achievement Gap

By Tony WagnerBy Tony WagnerFor: Dobbs Fellowship on 21For: Dobbs Fellowship on 21stst Century Skills Century Skills

Bernadette Mc AdamBernadette Mc Adam

In 60 seconds or less…

• What are 21st Century Survival Skills?

• Why do our students need them?• How will they help you?

1. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

What does this mean?

Developing a habit of asking good questions

Work is no longer defined by specialty, but rather by the task or problem that needs solving, or the goal that must be accomplished (pgs 14-15).

2. Collaboration and Leading by Influence2. Collaboration and Leading by Influence

How exactly?How exactly?

Conference calls, web casts, net Conference calls, web casts, net meetings, video conferences…meetings, video conferences…(p 23)(p 23)

Becoming skillful at working with Becoming skillful at working with networks of people across networks of people across cultures and boundaries (p 24)cultures and boundaries (p 24)

Lead by influence rather than Lead by influence rather than authority (p 27).authority (p 27).

3. Agility and Adaptability

Why? Intensifying rate of change (p 30) Overwhelming amount of data (p 30) Increasing complexity of problems (p 30) We live in a world where there isn’t one right

answer, or if there is, it’s right only for a nanosecond (p 32).

4. Initiative and Entrepreneurialism

Because… Leadership is the capacity to take initiative

and trust yourself to be creative (p 33) Leaders want individuals to take initiative and

even be entrepreneurial in the ways they seek new opportunities, ideas, and strategies for improvement (p 32).

Employers are looking for self-starters and results-oriented individuals (p 33).

5. Effective Oral and Written Communication

What does this mean? The ability to create focus, energy and

passion (p 36) Convey information quickly and concisely (p

35) Expressing one’s views clearly;

communicating effectively is an important citizenship skill (p34).

6. Accessing and Analyzing Information

Importance? We manage an astronomical amount of

information (p 36) Be able to access and evaluate rapidly

changing information from multiple sources (p 37)

Knowledge workers analyze information to discern new challenges and opportunities (p 37)

7. Curiosity and Imagination

Why? Creative solutions to problems (p 38) Design products and services that stand out

from the competition (p 38) Question why things are the way they are (p

39) Go to the root of the problem; understand it

inside out, up and down (p 39)

So how does this help you?

• Differentiated Instruction• Highly engaged students• Student driven; student centered

activities• Facilitator rather than Teacher• Let go—Be surprised!

Here is what can happen…

• Example of student assignment

Why I need your help…• Form a small PLC on using the 21st

Century Skills in classrooms• Observing each other, having open

discussions and working together to improve instruction using 21st Century Skills in the classroom

• 3 to 4 volunteers.

References Wagner, Tony. (2008). The Global

Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do About It. New York: Basic Books.