Saturday, March 7, 2009

21st-Century Skills: Learning in a Globalized World

By Lauren Tyson

It is often difficult as a parent to watch a child make a choice that could possibly be detrimental to his or her future. We can only hope that their limited life experiences and education will train them for real world situations, but there is no absolute guarantee. The real world is not always black and white, and as adults, we know that kids and teens will encounter many forks in the road that will put that experience and education to the test.

The various stages of a student's education represent waypoints in their lives; kindergarten teaches children to create and run with their imagination, while middle school begins the development process of social skills and graces that will influence the caliber of their future relationships. High school will allow teenagers to form lasting bonds with their peers, and college will open up the door of possibility for careers, goals, and aspirations.

Kids and teenagers are living in an ever-changing world that is evolving faster than ever before. Their world crosses global boundaries, and many of their interactions will be with people of different ethnicities, cultural background or different ways of thinking. As the internet, foreign exchange programs, and television provide further insights and influence on the way their world is viewed, it is necessary to hone that understanding into something that can be used in future careers and personal endeavors.

How can we translate that into real-life skills that will help them build a valuable future? It is no longer acceptable to adhere to a single way of thinking or modus operandi. Multiple factors and perspectives need to be considered for anyone to survive in a fast-paced business world. Students need to be outfitted with what some call "21st-century skills".

21st-century skills refer to the real-life skills that professionals will need to advance in the world of today. Entrepreneurs, business men and women, and professionals must be able to communicate effectively with people from a range of social and cultural backgrounds and be adaptable to change. Open-mindedness is essential when it comes to maintaining a cutting edge amongst their peers.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is an organization dedicated to providing an innovative support system for students who need real-life skills. When paired with core subjects-like English, World Languages, Economics, Science, Government, and History, to name a few-students will be able to master the abilities required of them in the 21st century as well as facilitate global awareness and business literacy that will translate into the real world.

It is important to realize that it is never too late to provide students with these skills. The world is ever-changing and understanding of cultural differences, alternate modes of thinking and diversity of opinion will only increase both innovation and quality of work in the long run.

Bright futures and high-reaching goals will be within a student's grasp when they have the 21st-century skills at their disposal. Not only will they be able to acquire the job of their dreams, but they will be able to keep it as well. With the current state of the mercurial business world, students deserve every opportunity they can get to succeed.

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