21st Century Learning

Several initiatives are underway using the rubric of 21st Century Learning. They share similar perspectives about what additional skills are needed in today's global knowledge economy in addition to the 3Rs. -


Partnership for 21st Century for Learning
P21 is a US national advocacy group focused on infusing 21st-century skills into education. P21’s website states: It has identified several ‘soft’ skills crucial for success in the global knowledge economy. These include: problem solving, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. "It has become apparent that there isn't a lack of employees who are technically proficient, but a lack of employees who can adequately communicate and collaborate, innovate, and think critically," said Ken Kay, P21 president. However, in a P21 poll virtually unanimous 99% of US voters say teaching students these skills is important to our country’s future economic success.



The 21st Century Learning Initiative
This British-Canadian initiative is facilitating “the emergence of new approaches to learning that draw upon a range of insights into the human brain, the functioning of human societies, and learning as a community-wide activity”. It has just published Overschooled But Undereducated. This argues for the overhaul of the current education system and the reassessment of educational policy and attitudes towards learning and schooling.

The 21st Century Learning Alliance
The alliance “brings together industry, government and teachers to help to make 21st century learning a reality”. It was founded by key UK organizations involved in education including: Oracle, Cisco, Partnerships for Schools, Futurelab, & Northern Grid for Learning.

School of the Future
The School District of Philadelphia and Microsoft collaborated for several years on imagining and constructing a “School of the Future.” This was opened in 2006 to “create a living blueprint for learning environments in the 21st century”. It is part of Microsoft’s global Partners in Learning initiative.


Enquiring Minds
This UK initiative is involved in a comprehensive curriculum redesign that “takes students’ ideas, interests and experiences as its starting point, and provides them with more responsibility for the direction and content of their learning”.

Life Span Positive Development

A number of innovative initiatives are emerging focused on understanding and fostering emotional and social intelligence. These address all stages of life and learning. Each has its own conceptual framework, methodology, and ecosystem of institutions and practitioners. Seen together these initiatives have significant critical mass. They underscore how widely recognized the importance of soft skills are for individual and social well being globally.