The Partnership for 21st Century Skills - New Program Increases Capacity of Practitioners to Embed 21st Century Skills into the Classroom

New Program Increases Capacity of Practitioners to Embed 21st Century Skills into the Classroom

TUCSON, AZ – October 15, 2008 – The Partnership for 21st Century Skills launched a groundbreaking new program which will establish a network of experts who are specialists in helping states and districts design and implement 21st century skills via targeted professional development programs.

Nearly 30 people from 11 organizations (the Arizona K-12 Center, Atomic Learning, the Center for Education Innovation and Regional Economic Development, Edvantia, The EdVenture Group, Learning Point Associates, Metiri Group, National Education Association, The Teacher Education and Development Group of Pearson, SEDL, and Virtual High School) were the inaugural participants in the P21 Professional Development Affiliate program.

As affiliates, participants now form a specialized cadre armed with the resources required to align their already robust professional development programs with the Partnership’s Framework for 21st Learning – which makes clear the skills, knowledge and expertise students must master to succeed in work and life. Program participants are also able to assist others looking to align the Framework into existing models. The unique design of the program allows for differentiation within states to ensure 21st century skills fit seamlessly into existing state standards and policies.

As more and more states and districts embrace 21st century skills, there is an exponentially growing need for assistance in embedding these skills into schools and classrooms. The affiliate program fills this void by creating a national network of providers proficient in helping teachers and administrators implement the Framework.

“Engaging students in the classroom is a key component to success in education. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has captured the ingredients to engagement in the definition of 21st century skills,” said Lydotta Taylor, president, The EdVenture Group. “As a former teacher and professional development provider, it is clear that these skills are necessary for our students to compete in today’s global society.”

The affiliate program is designed for national, state and regional organizations that provide training and professional development programs to school administrators and instructional leaders. Upon completion of the program, participants become part of a national community committed to infusing 21st century skills into K-12 instructional practices and sharing their work with colleagues.

“It has become apparent that all levels of American society – the public, business community, educators and policymakers – understand the importance 21st century skills play in graduating students capable of succeeding in today’s global economy,” said Ken Kay, president of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. “With the launch of this innovative program, the Partnership is filling the necessity of aligning professional development with 21st century skills. I am confident that the program empowers practitioners to move this powerful vision to influential action.”

The P21 Professional Development Affiliate program is part of the Partnership’s coordinated effort to expand the body of knowledge and resources that support professional development in the area of 21st century skills. The program will be offered three times over the upcoming calendar year with a goal of reaching 100 key practitioners and untold numbers of teachers, administrators and students. For more information on the program or the services offered by the P21 affiliates, visit our Professional Development Affiliates page.

About the Partnership for 21st Century Skills: The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is the leading advocacy organization focused on infusing 21st century skills into education. The organization brings together the business community, education leaders, and policymakers to define a powerful vision for 21st century education to ensure every child’s success as citizens and workers in the 21st century. The Partnership encourages schools, districts, and states to advocate for the infusion of 21st century skills into education and provides tools and resources to help facilitate and drive change.

21st Century Skills Leadership States include: Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Dakota, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

Member organizations include: Adobe Systems, Inc., American Association of School Librarians, Apple, ASCD, AT&T, Atomic Learning, Blackboard, Inc., Cable in the Classroom, Cengage Learning, Cisco Systems, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Davis Publications, Dell, Inc., Discovery Education, EF Education, Education Networks of America, Educational Testing Service, Ford Motor Company Fund, Giant Campus, Hewlett Packard, Intel Corporation, JA Worldwide®, KnowledgeWorks Foundation, K12, LEGO Group, Learning Point Associates, Lenovo, Measured Progress, Microsoft Corporation, National Education Association, Oracle Education Foundation, Pearson, PolyVision, Scholastic Education, Sesame Workshop, THINKronize, Verizon, and Wireless Generation. Organizations interested in joining the Partnership may contact info@21stcenturyskills.org.

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What Inaugural Participants are saying about the 21st Century Skills Professional Development Affiliate Program:

“Eric Hoffer, American social writer, said ‘in times of change, the learner will inherit the earth while the learned are beautifully equipped for a world that no longer exists.’ There’s a lot of focus on our 21st century students and how critical it is that they develop the information, communication, technology and lifelong learning skills they will need to succeed as productive global citizens; however, how can we develop 21st century students without 21st century teachers? The Partnership for 21st Century Skills PD Affiliate Program is designed to provide states, regions and districts with the necessary professional development resources needed to assure that teachers continue to play an important role in helping our students acquire the necessary skills for 21st century success.” – Liz Paper, President and CEO, Virtual High School Global Consortium

“The 21st Century Skills Partnership has been a collaborative partner and resource for development of the CESA #1 21st Century Learning Program. Putting into practice the skills identified and walking the walk, has allowed us to create and innovate instructional change for the classroom for students today. We look forward to the continued growth of the Partnership and our programs as we apply the skills not only in our products, but in our business practice.” – Kathy Onarheim, Director of 21st Century Learning, Center for Education Innovation and Regional Economic Development

“Socrates prepared his students for his time. Are we preparing our students for theirs? 21st century teaching and learning prepares teachers and students for the time of their lives. Literally. Each generation of educators is responsible for preparing students for what lies just beyond the horizon. It’s not about shifting gears. It’s about shifting paradigms. Even our own students are telling us we need to get real about education. Transforming education to meet the evolving needs of our students requires us to keep one foot in the present and the other on tomorrow. In the 20th century, society’s top awards went to those who could dissect, analyze, and compete. Tomorrow’s prizes will go to those who can integrate, create, and collaborate.” – Dr. Sandra Angius, Vice President of Programs, Edvantia

“The P21 Affiliates Seminar was one of the best seminars I’ve attended in a long time. The break-out sessions were relevant and well-organized.” – Jacki Kientzle, Product Manager, Atomic Learning

“Arizona faces a pressing need for establishing higher standards in K-12 student performance. This means a close examination of teaching practice, curricula and overall school operations. Utilizing the 21st Century Skills Framework we can assure that student learning and teaching practice are aligned with the ever-changing needs of our society and economy. The Professional Development Affiliate Program gives us the opportunity to offer our expertise in this area to a broad constituency of educators.” – Penny Kotterman, Associate Director of New Programs and Policy, Arizona K-12 Center

“The importance of 21st Century Teaching and Learning is unmistakable in many of the projects The EdVenture Group currently pursues. Not only do we as professionals see how such skills are used every day in the workplace, but also we often see how these skills are needed in the classroom. As professional development affiliates of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, we now have the opportunity to share our knowledge and success stories with educators and students across the country and help prepare them for 21st Century teaching, thinking and learning.” – Carrie Calloway, education consultant, EdVenture Group