P21 Framework for 21st Century Learning
Throughout this semester, our class discussions were driven by three essential questions:
1. What is literacy?
2. What literacy skills, knowledge, and understandings are needed for 21st century learners?
3. How should literacy and language learning take place in the 21st century?
If there is anything we have learned from perusing scholarly literature and pursuing this community inquiry project, it is there is no single answer to any of these questions related to literacy in the 21st century. However, when we became interested in better understanding the insights and perspectives of local community members, we soon realized it would be helpful to use an existing framework as a guide. Soon thereafter, we decided to craft our questions around the P21 Framework for 21st Century Learning, which suggests that 21st century student outcomes are dependent on their support systems.
The student outcomes represented in the rainbow arches include Key Subjects, the Three Rs (reading, writing, arithmetic) and 21st Century Themes; Life and Career Skills, Learning and Innovation Skills (including the 4Cs: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity); and Information, Media and Technology Skills. Combined, P21 considers these student outcomes the “skills, knowledge and expertise students should master to succeed in work and life in the 21st century,” (p21.org). The mastery of these skills is crucial to the chances of success in 21st century learning; therefore, these concepts are all dependent upon various support elements. In the image above, these elements are displayed in the arches at the bottom of the rainbow and include: Standards and Assessments, Curriculum and Instruction, Professional Development, and Learning Environments. Each of these support components must work together to build one larger support system that functions to help ensure mastery of 21st century skills.
Find more information about P21 by clicking on the links below:
Partnership for 21st Century Learning
Framework for 21st Century Learning
P21 Exemplar Schools
P21 Blog
1. What is literacy?
2. What literacy skills, knowledge, and understandings are needed for 21st century learners?
3. How should literacy and language learning take place in the 21st century?
If there is anything we have learned from perusing scholarly literature and pursuing this community inquiry project, it is there is no single answer to any of these questions related to literacy in the 21st century. However, when we became interested in better understanding the insights and perspectives of local community members, we soon realized it would be helpful to use an existing framework as a guide. Soon thereafter, we decided to craft our questions around the P21 Framework for 21st Century Learning, which suggests that 21st century student outcomes are dependent on their support systems.
The student outcomes represented in the rainbow arches include Key Subjects, the Three Rs (reading, writing, arithmetic) and 21st Century Themes; Life and Career Skills, Learning and Innovation Skills (including the 4Cs: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity); and Information, Media and Technology Skills. Combined, P21 considers these student outcomes the “skills, knowledge and expertise students should master to succeed in work and life in the 21st century,” (p21.org). The mastery of these skills is crucial to the chances of success in 21st century learning; therefore, these concepts are all dependent upon various support elements. In the image above, these elements are displayed in the arches at the bottom of the rainbow and include: Standards and Assessments, Curriculum and Instruction, Professional Development, and Learning Environments. Each of these support components must work together to build one larger support system that functions to help ensure mastery of 21st century skills.
Find more information about P21 by clicking on the links below:
Partnership for 21st Century Learning
Framework for 21st Century Learning
P21 Exemplar Schools
P21 Blog