21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times [Format Kindle]

First off, thanks to the authors for writing a book that is applicable to teaching and learning. I've read 6 other books on 21st century skills topics and none have come close to providing models, examples, etc. on teaching and learning. In this book the authors spend less time detailing the changes in our world that are bringing an emphasis on "21st century skills" back to the forefront and more time on defining the skills and a learning framework to be used by educators in assisting students acquisition of these skills. The text details each "21st century skill" with descriptors of what students should be able to do. For educators, this is paramount in designing performance tasks and/or evaluating student performance tasks as actually being a "21st century skill." The authors then provide a learning framework or the "the project learning bicycle" and finish up with good descriptors of system changes to promote the implementation of their ideas. To sum up my thoughts, this is a book written for educational practitioners.

Dee W. Hartt, Ed. D.

Where are we going? It is a good question and no one really knows, and many academics feel that we educators should be more aware of the uncertainties that face tomorrow's leaders.

I think that educators should be thinking of these uncertainties as well, and that this book (for me) was an interesting read looking at how students need to be trained to be better adopters of information and knowledge earlier in the learning cycle. This is happening as information technologies are leading this trend in many aspects, but the training of educators to better evolve classroom practices (many dated to antiquity) for the modern world. Individuals are becoming researchers with resources at their fingertips unlike any time in the past, and with technology automating a lot of tasks we "used to do" there is more time to devote to mental development.

I bought, at the same time, 21st Century Skills: Rethinking How Students Learn (Leading Edge), and think that the two books make good companions as the other is a series of essays from prominent educators/philosophers that address this same issue from 14 other perspectives (the invited authors' viewpoints).

The book starts with a brief and basic discussion on eras of education from agricultural times to industrial into 1991 when the possible tipping point for the knowledge era was reflected in economics, and since 1991 we are all too familiar with the change technology is bringing into the world. The old SPSS statistics can now be generated within online calculators, with ease. Google scholar brings a wealth of literature into living rooms, and if that doesn't work there is likely to be a Youtube to support and develop understandings of the concept/ideas under consideration.

It is true, many hold on to the past. They may be correct at some philosophical level, but the fact is, the future is unpredictable and the changes the youth will face (the challenges they will encounter) require a new set of skills to approach the future will a successful mindset. And, if what I am writing is wrong - it is a good thing you are here reading this as you too can become aware of such pressing issues that are being discussed in education today. It's fine to have various views. Its best.

Highly recommend this book

I had an opportunity to hear Bernie Trilling speak when the book first came out. As a school librarian who sees every student in my school, this book has become a valuable resource for me and my library partner. This book provides a practical guide for reinvigorating teaching for the next generation. Each chapter lays out a foundation that supports teachers and students as we prepare them for a job that may not exisit yet, all the while reinforcing critical thinking & problem solving, communication & collaboration, and creativity & innovation.

We focused in on the Four Converging Forces that educators need to look at in addressing student learning and have adapted many of our collaboration lessons with teachers to include these skills. Chapter 3 focuses on many other digital literacies and Chapter 5 on how to prepare students for work.

The second part of the book takes all the theories and places them in a blueprint for practice within the school district. Any school system looking for a model of how to incorporate 21st Century Skills into their curriculum needs to reference this book. Practical ideas and implenetations that can be adapted to current core curriculas are included along with a DVD for professional development opportunities.

My copy is heavily tagged, underlined, and well-used.