As our society becomes more technology-based and with each new generation of students being born digital natives, there are a set of skills that each student needs to have for success. These skills are commonly called "21st Century Skills". A popular source for information about 21st Century Skills is the Partnership for 21st Century Learning. According to them, our current students will need a certain set of skills in order to be successful in the "real world". Successful workers means successful companies which in turn creates successful economies. I would recommend that each student and parent take a look at their website and become familiar with the skills listed there, if you are not familiar.
Since I am an art teacher, I tend to look at each new school of thought that I am introduced to from an artist's perspective. While I have read a lot of information on P21.org, I have also read studies by other organizations about future skill sets that will be needed by our students. Another organization that has put their spin on 21st Century Skills is the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS presents 21st Century Skills from the perspective of museum and library needs.
Here are a few of the skills that I found particularly interesting:
There are so many other skills that I found important, but the above few I think are especially relevant to our young artists. Since art requires innovation and imagination, I truly think that nurturing these 21st Century Skills can help our students become better artists and better global citizens.
If you would like to read more about the skill sets needed by our students, please visit the following links:
Since I am an art teacher, I tend to look at each new school of thought that I am introduced to from an artist's perspective. While I have read a lot of information on P21.org, I have also read studies by other organizations about future skill sets that will be needed by our students. Another organization that has put their spin on 21st Century Skills is the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). IMLS presents 21st Century Skills from the perspective of museum and library needs.
Here are a few of the skills that I found particularly interesting:
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving - Solving problems that the student is not familiar with in conventional and innovative ways. [Source]
- Creativity and Innovation - Creating "new and worthwhile ideas", displaying imagination and curiosity and seeing failure as "an opportunity to learn". [Source]
- Communication and Collaboration - Working respectfully with a diverse team of people and sharing responsibility for collaborative work. [Source]
- Visual Literacy - Having the ability to "recognize, appreciate and understand information presented through visible actions, objects and symbols, natural or man-made". [Source]
There are so many other skills that I found important, but the above few I think are especially relevant to our young artists. Since art requires innovation and imagination, I truly think that nurturing these 21st Century Skills can help our students become better artists and better global citizens.
If you would like to read more about the skill sets needed by our students, please visit the following links:
- Museums, Libraries and 21st Century Skills
- Partnership for 21st Century Learning
- Education Weekly Sourcebook