Introduction - Globalization defines the 21st Century. It is based on the expansion and acceleration of knowledge and technology, the increase in travel and movement of people, goods and ideas and the off-shoring and outsourcing of services. Historically schools have worked to insure students master the basic skills of reading, writing and arithmetic. However, the so called 21st Century Skills emphasize critical thinking, creativity and innovation, initiative and entrepreneurism, collaboration, accessing and analyzing information, curiosity and imagination as well as effective oral and written communication. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) founded in 1961 made up of 34 countries for the purpose of stimulating economic progress and world trade believes that education is the means to advance in these areas. Thus their Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a worldwide evaluation of 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance, performed first in 2000 and repeated every three years. Students from the United States perform at the average level in reading and science and far below average in mathematics. These results have been the source of great concern among the educators of today. The PISA exams measure application more than knowledge. Education in this country can be characterized as an isolated profession. However, the countries that score the highest in the PISA exams exhibit a great deal of collaboration among their teaching faculties. The goal of this unit is to familiarize the students with the concept of Globalization and with identified 21st Century Skills and to encourage open communication which may translate into action plans for American schools to implement and follow in order to better prepare the American students for a fast changing world. Unit Learning Goals - When you finish this unit, you will be able to:1. Understand the concept of globalization and 21st Century Skills.2. Participate in open discussion on what these concepts and skills mean to educators in this country.3. As leaders conceptualize an action plan to teach 21st Century Skills that could be implemented in K-12 schools as well as institutions of post secondary education.
Questions to be answered before class as you complete the reading assignment1. What is your definition of globalization?2. What are the 7 skills Tony Wagner identifies as essential to be successful in the 21st Century?3. What are the reasons most schools do not teach these skills?4. What can you do to increase collaboration among the teachers at your school or work environment? Summary Key Points:1. Students are socially connected more than ever.2. Teachers continue to concentrate on teaching the skills that are tested.3. Teaching in new ways requires collaboration, leadership, coaching and mentoring of teachers. click for download