Walden University Blog

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What would the model 21st century school look like? A model school should have several characteristics, (1) use up-to-date technology for learning, (2) foster 21st century skills among their faculty and students, and (3) be a leader in their community.

1. Use up-to-date technology for learning:  A model 21st century school should keep themselves up-to-date with learning technologies and offer appropriate professional development for their faculty.  Additionally, they should train their students to use the technologies. 
2. Foster 21st century skills among their faculty and students: To train students in 21st century skills a school should first train their teachers.  Additionally, the school should examine content of courses and align them with skills that promote the ones recommended by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. 
3. Be leaders in the community: Schools model the 21st century themes of global awareness, financial literacies, civic literacy, health literacy, and environmental literacy within the local community.  By modeling this in the community, parents and community members can be part of training children in the skills as well.

Schools should be striving to meet the needs of learners and prepare them to step out into the real world.  By modeling 21st century skills to their students and community, they begin to instill the skills, as well.