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"As the workplace changes and becomes increasingly global, today's students must be educated with a 21st-century mindset. Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills are no longer just "good skills" to have; they are increasingly vital to a 21st-century education-and students should begin cultivating these skills as early as possible. Attracting students to the STEM disciplines is the first hurdle, and retaining student interest in these areas is the second. But once student interest in STEM-related fields is established, they will discover they are on a successful path not just for higher education, but for the workforce as well."

"Last summer, as I was winding down my eight years as president of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills, I went around the country and met with 30 superintendents, asking them, "What can I do to support your efforts to implement 21st century education in your district?" Together we came up with the idea of creating a professional learning community (PLC) of education leaders committed to 21st century education. A team of us liked the idea so much that earlier this year we launched EdLeader21, a community of education leaders committed to building critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity into their educational system. "

"This wiki was created to easily help educators find other educators on Twitter that have the same interests as them (that teach in the same content area). Check out the list of educators on the pages linked below and add your Twitter name to the appropriate list too. "

"Unfortunately, unchecked and unfocused use of technology can result in students disconnecting from the "why" of learning and from the real-time relationships that are key to their development and success. Alternatively, high-quality integration of technology has the potential to not only prepare young people for their futures, but also to enhance and expand learning and connectedness. Join our guests as they discuss specific ways you can overcome barriers to connecting digital learners and lead your school community in meaningful technology integration. You'll hear from: * Heidi Hayes Jacobs, author of Curriculum 21: Essential Education in a Changing World, founder and president of Curriculum Designers Inc., and executive director of the Curriculum Mapping Institute; * Juliette Mersiowsky, instructional designer and instructor of education and technology at Germanna Community College in Virginia; and * Ena Bentley Wood, technology integration specialist with Arlington (Va.) Public Schools. How does your school and community meaningfully connect digital learners to their peers, teachers, and communities; to rich and challenging learning; and to their futures?"

"The Foundation and Center for Critical Thinking aim to improve education in colleges, universities and primary through secondary schools. We present publications, conferences, workshops and professional development programs, emphasizing instructional strategies, Socratic questioning, critical reading and writing, higher order thinking, assessment, research, quality enhancement, and competency standards."

Based on the ELA Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Grades 9-12, This response video combined with the original "An Open Letter to Educators" exemplifies the intent of these two standards: --Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and collaborate on a shared writing product, incorporating diverse and sometimes conflicting feedback. --Demonstrate command of technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update work in response to ongoing feedback, including fresh arguments or new information. This video exemplifies the intent of these two standards.

"If the message in this video resonates with you feel free to send it to any teachers, principals, professors, university presidents, boards of regents, boards of education, etc. you think should see it."

An Open Letter to Educators by Dan Brown from YouTube posted on Curriculum21.ning.com

Traditional schools - with their lectures, homework, and report cards - aren't for everyone. Here are five alternative approaches to education.

"Jason Ryan Dorsey, the Gen Y Guy, talks about how teachers can influence students, how students can reach success by taking control of their educational path, and his success as a New York Times Best-selling author at age 18."

"Greetings Mappers: nWelcome to beautiful Saratoga Springs and to the Sixteenth Annual Curriculum Mapping Institute and Academies. The major theme for our institute this year is Curriculum21: Mapping the Future for our Learners. You are part of a contingent from across the United States joined by educators from Australia, the Bahamas, Europe, New Zealand, Japan, Central America, and the Middle East. "

Micheal Hildebrant's opinion column makes good points. i especially liked his last paragraph.

"Alejandra Quaglia The world in which my students are growing up is changing very quickly. With smartphones, video games, wikis, blogs, texting, and e-mails as an integral part of their lives, students are multitaskers, fast-paced, and highly collaborative. Over the last 10 years, I've found that I can no longer apply teaching methods that were developed before the rise of technology. My students got bored, and they didn't pay much attention to highly structured textbook lessons. As a language arts teacher in the bilingual St. Andrew's Scots School in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I was determined to change my education approach to help prepare my students for our changing world."

"Has there ever been such a frenzy of thinking and activity over a concept which does not even exist? I am referring, of course, to the ridiculous notion of so-called '21st century skills'. Bloggers, teachers, employer organisations and even governments have fallen over themselves to produce documents 'proving' that 21st century skills are essential in the 21st century. Papers have been written. Rubrics have been created. In England the National Curriculum itself has been perverted from its course to include 'Personal Learning and Training Skills' (aptly pronounced, generally, as 'pelts'). I am surprised that I've yet to see jobs advertised: "Wanted: Dynamic Director of 21st Century Skills"; "Needed as soon as possible: 21st century skills co-ordinator.""

"If your school is seeking to incorporate more collaborative approaches to teaching and learning, the design of the learning environment-whether it's a classroom or a more informal space-can be a critical factor in making this transformative move. Technology, in particular, can play a pivotal role in enabling students to work effectively in teams and in supporting educators as they make the transition from a lecture-oriented to a more facilitative instructional mode. "

"Schools have become unwitting coconspirators in the decline of reading. On a recent cross-country flight, I found myself sitting next to the president of a multimillion dollar computer software company. To keep his business competitive, he told me, his organization regularly recruits employees from top universities. When I asked him how his current recruitment efforts were going, he said that over the past few years it had become increasingly challenging to find qualified workers. It isn't difficult finding smart candidates; the problem is finding smart people who can think."

These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education careers so that they will graduate high school able to succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing academic college courses and in workforce training programs. The standards are: * Aligned with college and work expectations; * Clear, understandable and consistent; * Include rigorous content and application of knowledge through high-order skills; * Build upon strengths and lessons of current state standards; * Informed by other top performing countries, so that all students are prepared to succeed in our global economy and society; and * Evidence-based.

Through Race to the Top, we are asking States to advance reforms around four specific areas: * Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace and to compete in the global economy; * Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals about how they can improve instruction; * Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and * Turning around our lowest-achieving schools. Awards in Race to the Top will go to States that are leading the way with ambitious yet achievable plans for implementing coherent, compelling, and comprehensive education reform. Race to the Top winners will help trail-blaze effective reforms and provide examples for States and local school districts throughout the country to follow as they too are hard at work on reforms that can transform our schools for decades to come.

"Students increasingly are taking education into their own hands with personal technology experiences, a trend with important implications for schools"

"These 21st Century Skills Map are each the result of hundreds of hours of research, development and feedback from educators and business leaders across the nation."