Abstract
During the first decade of the 21st century, we have witnessed the greatest technological revolution in history. As a result, technological advances, immigration, globalization, and a media culture define the landscape of the 21st century. As Fisch (n.d.) states, “shift happens,” in his slide show, “Did You Know?” The resulting shift has changed our lives in so many ways—the way we work, entertain, do business, communicate, and teach and learn, to name just a few. The world has moved from the Industrial Age into the Knowledge Age with a flattened world of connected knowledge work, global markets, tele-linked citizens, and blended cultural traditions (Trilling & Fadel, 2009).
The most dangerous experiment we can conduct with our children is to keep schooling the same at a time when every other aspect of our society is dramatically changing.
Chris Dede, written statement to the PCST panel, 1997
The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.
Alvin Toffler
Teaching our high school students 21st Century skills is no longer an option, it is a necessity
—Steven L. Paine, West Virginia Superintendent of Schools
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Augustine, N. R. (2007). Is American falling off the flat earth? Washington, DC: National Academy Press; Opstal, D.V. (2008). Thrive: The skills imperative. Washington, DC: Council of Competitiveness, p. 8. Retrieved from http://www.compete.org/publications/detail/472/thrive/.
Fisch, K. (n.d.) Did you know? Retrieved from http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2007/06/did-you-know-20.html
Friedman, T. L. (2007). The world is flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Lemke, C., Coughlin, E., Thadani, V., & Martin, C. (2003). enGauge 21st century skills: Literacy in the digital age. Los Angeles, CA: The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory/the Metiri Group.
Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (March, 2006). Reports that matter: 21st century skills and high school reform. Retrieved from http://www.21stCenturyskills.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=204&Items
Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (2007). Beyond the three Rs: Voter attitudes toward 21st century skills. Retrieved from http://www.21stCenturyskills.org/
Shaw, A. (2004). About the 21st century and education. 21st century school–professional staff development and curriculum design. Retrieved from http://www.21stcenturyschools.com/index.html
The New Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce. (December 14, 2006). Tough choices or tough times: The report of the new commission on the skills of the American workforce. NCEE (National Center on Education and the Economy). Retrieved from http://www.skillscommission.org/request_copy.htm
Trilling, B., & Fadel, C. (2009). 21st century skills: Learning for life in our times. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Tyler, R. W. (1949). Basic principles of curriculum and instruction. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Wallis, C., & Steptoe, S. (December 10, 2006). How to bring our schools out of the 20th century. Time magazine. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1567463,00.html
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wan, G., Gut, D.M. (2011). Introduction. In: Wan, G., Gut, D. (eds) Bringing Schools into the 21st Century. Explorations of Educational Purpose, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0268-4_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0268-4_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-0267-7
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-0268-4
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawEducation (R0)