21st Century Skills
The global economy calls for new skills like critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation.
National Initiative: Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills
The Institute's Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills initiative underscores the critical role our nation’s museums and libraries play in helping citizens build such 21st century skills as information, communications and technology literacy, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, civic literacy, and global awareness.
Search the Awarded Grants database for grants to programs that strengthen 21st century skills (issue areas have only been assigned to grants awarded since FY 2009)
21st century skills content on the IMLS Web site:
September 14, 2012 08:48 AM
Lack of digital skills impacts the lives millions of Americans. This new resource will provide free high quality tools and training.
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June 6, 2012 10:59 AM
Libraries to develop new tools to combat summer learning loss.
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April 13, 2012 01:12 PM
IMLS has made new resources available to museums and libraries looking to build 21st century skills in their communities.
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August 9, 2012 09:52 AM
Did you know that August is Connected Educator Month? Find out how the Department of Education is connecting educators of all disciplines and levels collaborate online—it’s not too late to participate!
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June 7, 2012 11:42 AM
Karen Archer Perry, a senior program officer for U.S. Libraries with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Chauncy Lennon, a program officer with the Ford Foundation, share their insights about the community and economic development power of broadband adoption.
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May 16, 2012 04:49 PM
IMLS Director Susan Hildreth describes how lack of access to summer learning opportunities can put young people at risk. Education policy makers are looking for strategies to combat “summer slide” and libraries and museums are part of the solution.
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This report outlines a vision for the role of libraries and museums in the national dialogue around learning and 21st century skills and includes case studies of innovative audience engagement and 21st century skills practices from across the country.
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Quick summary of makerspaces -- hands-on, mentor-led learning environments to make and
remake the physical and digital worlds -- in museums and libraries.
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August 11, 2010 03:54 PM
In this podcast, Acting Director Marsha L. Semmel explains: 1) What are 21st century skills? 2) Where did the 21st century skills movement come from? 3) Where do museums and libraries fit in the 21st century skills movement? Semmel also describes Making the Learning Connection, IMLS’s national campaign to better understand the opportunities, challenges, and key issues facing today’s museums and libraries in their efforts to meet their communities’ 21st century learning needs. The campaign includes an eight-city workshop tour, a national contest, new online tools and resources, and a series of interactive webinars.
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