More States, Vendors Ally with Partnership for 21st Century Skills
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The Partnership for 21st Century Skills recently reported that Iowa has joined its State Leadership Initiative--the seventh state to join to date. The group also told THE Journal that two more states are expected to join up within the next 45 days.
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is a coalition of business and education groups focused on technology education and the integration of technology into education. The group provides the Framework for 21st Century Learning, which is a roadmap for education centered around technology and skills-focused learning. It also provides resources focused on providing information and tools for educators for boosting 21st century learning in K-12 through its Route 21 site. The State Leadership Initiative is geared toward building statewide programs to "reinvigorate learning to meet the demands of the 21st century."
A representation of the Framework for 21st Century Learning, a roadmap for technology and skills-focused learning
"Times have changed, and Iowa students need to understand areas such as finance and technology to compete in today's global society," said Iowa Department of Education Director Judy Jeffrey in a statement released last week. "Skills like critical thinking or cross cultural understanding are essential because employers are looking for employees who can solve problems creatively and adapt to various roles and responsibilities."
The move is part of a two-year initiative to focus on bringing 21st century skills into the classroom in subjects that include "civic literacy, health literacy, technology literacy, financial literacy, and employability skills," according to the information released by the Office of the Governor.
The Iowa DoE has made a podcast available covering its participation in the State Leadership Initiative.
Other members of the State Leadership Initiative include Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Earlier this month, the Partnership also announced that four vendors have joined up: ASCD, Atomic Learning, Hewlett-Packard, and Lenovo.
Further information can be fund at the Partnership's site here.
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About the author: David Nagel is the executive editor for 1105 Media's online education technology publications, including THE Journal and Campus Technology. He can be reached at [email protected].
Proposals for articles and tips for news stories, as well as questions and comments about this publication, should be submitted to David Nagel, executive editor, at [email protected].