Standard 7: WBL activities are utilized as a mechanism to acquire 21st Century Skills for all students to succeed in the workplace.
Work-based Learning Helps Students Acquire 21st Century Skills
The 21st century introduces a plethora of new challenges to youth growing up during these times, especially when it comes to becoming ready for the workforce. Some of these challenges include the following:
WBL prepares youth to tackle these challenges and successfully transition into the 21st century workforce. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has created a Framework for 21st Century Learning. WBL offers students opportunities to practice 21st century skills in these three focus areas:
While there are a number of definitions for 21st Century Skills, most of the core competencies are similar. A useful framework for listing these essential skills comes from Tony Wagner's The Global Achievement Gap (2008). In it he defines the Seven Survival Skills for Teens Today as:
- National educator and employer consortia have defined essential 21st Century Skills necessary for all students to succeed.
Work-based Learning Helps Students Acquire 21st Century Skills
The 21st century introduces a plethora of new challenges to youth growing up during these times, especially when it comes to becoming ready for the workforce. Some of these challenges include the following:
- A hyper-competitive economic environment where many skills are becoming commoditized so that only the most creative, competent, and innovative people can succeed
- Globalization and introduction of cross-cultural work environments that demand cultural competency
- Constantly changing workplace demands that requires adaptation and self-initiative
- Rapidly shifting technology trends that require the workforce to be fluent in using the latest technologies
WBL prepares youth to tackle these challenges and successfully transition into the 21st century workforce. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills has created a Framework for 21st Century Learning. WBL offers students opportunities to practice 21st century skills in these three focus areas:
- Financial, economic, business and entrepreneurial literacy
- Learning and innovation skills
- Life and career skills
While there are a number of definitions for 21st Century Skills, most of the core competencies are similar. A useful framework for listing these essential skills comes from Tony Wagner's The Global Achievement Gap (2008). In it he defines the Seven Survival Skills for Teens Today as:
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Collaboration across networks and leading by influence
- Agility and Adaptability
- Initiative and Entrepreneurialism
- Effective oral and written communication
- Achieving and analyzing information
- Curiosity and Imagination