“P21 Framework Definitions”

This article was written to help teachers integrate skills into teaching the core subjects. The article describes the skills, knowledge, and expertise that teachers must teach their students. These skills are important so that students will be able to succeed in work and life. The teacher must integrate these important topics into their lessons by blending content knowledge, specific skills, expertise and literacies into the lesson.To be successful, students must be able to master core subjects. The core subjects include:
· English, reading or language arts
· World languages
· Art· Mathematics
· Economics
· Science
· Geography
· History
· Government and civics

Furthermore, the writers of the article believe that students must be able to understand academic content at higher levels. The authors suggest that this can be done by integrating interdisciplinary themes into the core subjects. The following are some of the topics that teachers should integrate into the core subjects:
· Global awareness
· Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial literacy
· Civic literacy
· Healthy literacy
· Environmental literacy
Other important topics that educators should integrate into their lessons include:
Creativity and innovation:
· Teach students to think creatively
· Work creatively with others
· Implement innovations
Critical thinking and problem solving:
· Use logic and reason effectively
· Analyze how parts of the whole interact with each other
· Make judgments and decisions
· Solve problems
Communications and collaboration:
· Communicate clearly
· Collaborate with othersInformation, media and technology skills:
· Access and evaluate information
· Use and manage informationMedia Literacy:
· Students need to learn how to analyze media
· Students need to learn how to create Media ProductsInformation, Communications and Technology (ICT):
· Students need to know how to apply technology effetely
Life and Career skills:
· Students need to learn to be flexible and adaptable
· Adapt to changeImitative and self-direction:
· Manage goals and time
· Work independently
· Be self-directedSocial and cross –cultural skills
· Interact well with others
· Work effectively in diverse teamsProductivity and accountability:
· Manage projects
· Produce resultsLeadership and responsibility
· Guided and lead others
· Be responsible to others

Furthermore, teachers need to assess student’s 21st century skills, implement 21st century skills into the curriculum, receive 21st century professional development and create an environment that supports the teaching and learning of 21st century skills.

I thought this article presented important concepts of analyzing and using technology in the classroom. I agreed with the emphasis that placed attention upon providing information that will help students to develop adequate life and career skills needed in a global market.

Reference:
The P21 Framework Definitions. Retrieved February 19, 2010, from http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxjd3UzMTZlZHRlY2h8Z3g6NGYyZmIwYThmY2FhODJkZg