Schweinfurt Middle School     ‡     Home of the Golden Knights and Ladies

21st Century Skills

       Schweinfurt Middle School staff and students are completing their first year investigating  21st Century Skills. 

    What are 21st Century Skills?

    21st century skills are skills students need to succeed in work, school and life.  The educators and business leaders of the consortium "21st Century Skills"  (www.21stCenturySkills.org) have identified five key areas that matter:

•   Core subjects (as defined by No Child Left Behind) - math, science, English, and  geography, for example

•   21st Century Content - awareness of global economies and politics, for example

•   Learning and Thinking Skills - problem solving and creative thinking, for example

•   Information and Communications Technology Literacy - awareness of positive and negative interactions over the internet, online information gathering,  using technology tools and applications, for example

•   Life skills - respect for diversity, citizenship and leadership development, for example

After studying the 21st century areas, Schweinfurt Middle School staff and students looked at our own programs to identify what we have been doing already that fits the 21st century skills descriptions, which activities could be adapted, and what new concepts might be added.  We have chosen to focus this year on enhancing digital communication, personal productivity, global awareness, entrepreneurial skills, and character development.  Follow the links below to see what we have done.

Resources:

• DODEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) - Curriculum and Standards 

• International Society for Technology in Education (www.ISTE.org)  Organization of educational professionals providing  leadership and service to improve teaching, learning, and school leadership by advancing the effective use of technology in PK–12 and teacher education. 

• National Education Technology Standards (N.E.T.S.) for Students  DoDEA Technology Standards adopted from ISTE.org. Teachers integrate technical resources to meet these standards.  These standards reflect 21st Century Skills.

• DoDDS-Europe Technology Plan Vision, Objectives, and Deployment strategy for DoDDS schools in Europe.  This plan has provided schools with the hardware and software, the network infrastructure that enables a 21st century education to proceed.

• 21st Century Skills  An organization of leaders in education, business and policy makers which advocates infusing 21st century skills into education.