The Partnership for 21st Century Skills was formed in 2002 as a collaborative group of business, education, and government. In 2004 this Partnership reported, �Learning for the 21st Century: A Report and Milestones for Improving Learning and Education (MILE) Guide 21st Century Skills�. The educational framework has produced changes in student learning and teaching methods. The Partnership also believes that states need to develop strategies and systems that will prepare students for their futures (Maurizio & Wilson, 2004).
A significant issue for policymakers is the inclusion of Information and Communication Technologies Literacy. Policymakers should incorporate the ICT standard in educational policy. By doing so, there will be 21st century skills that �will make learning as relevant and invigorating in school as it is in students� personal lives, where they already use the latest technologies to communicate collaborate, work and learn� (Maurizio & Wilson, 2004, 6). The Partnership recently released a Policy-Makers Guide to 21st Century Skills that contains five recommendations which is summarized as:
1. State standards should incorporate 21st Century skills as part of the NCLB eighth grade technology requirement.
2. Embed ICT Literacy into current standards, curricula, and assessments for core subjects.
3. Create a state and local infrastructure that support a 21st century education.
4. Provide professional development that aligns to 21st century education.
5. Involve educators, employers, community members, parents and policymakers.
The 21st century skills should be used by students to learn core subjects. The Partnership has worked with content area groups to combine ICT literacy and core subjects. The result of these efforts produced models called ICT Literacy Maps for geography, math, science, and English. The maps illustrate that 21st century tools can address core subjects as well as learning skills (Maurizio & Wilson).
I feel that it is critical for students to acquire ICT literacy to become productive citizens in the 21st century. The five recommendations given by the Partnership are relevant to Standard VII in the use of technology resources for improved student learning and professional development opportunities. Policymakers can affect change that will provide skills for students. A framework developed by the joint efforts of educators, business leaders, and policy makers can provide the preparation that is necessary for students in this century.
Maurizio, A. & Wilson, J. (August 2004). Policymakers and 21st century skills. THE Journal 32, 1.
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