Using the Learning Criteria to

Support 21st Century Learners

Ron Wheelis
Judy Kreiling
Elaine Sullivan

Three Question Exercise

1. What will the world be like 20 years from
now?
2. What skills will students need to be
successful in that world?
3. What would learning look like if it was
designed around your answers?

21 Century Skills
st

Learning & Innovation

Skills
Creativity & Innovation
Critical Thinking &
Problem-solving
Communication &
Collaboration

Life & Career Skills

Flexibility & Adaptability

Initiative & Self-direction
Social & Cross-cultural Skills
Productivity & Accountability
Leadership & Responsibility

Information, Media &

Technology Skills
Information Literacy
Media Literacy
ICT Literacy

www.21stcenturyskills.org

20th Century Learning

Teacher-directed
Direct Instruction
Knowledge
Content
Basic Skills
Theory
Curriculum
Individual
Classroom
Summative Assessed
Learning for School

21st Century Learning

Teacher-directed
Direct Instruction
Knowledge
Content
Basic Skills
Theory
Curriculum
Individual
Classroom
Summative Assessments
Learning for School

A Better

Learner-centered
Collaborative Instruction
Skills
Process
Higher-order Thinking
Practice
Life Skills
Group
Community
Formative Evaluations
Learning for Life

Balance

Rigor/Relevance Framework
6
5
4

3
2
1

The Learning Criteria helps

you put into action what you
believe is learning

It builds capacity for the

learner to live in Quadrant D

Learning Criteria
to Support 21st Century Learners

Over the last two years as you

developed and measured growth in
areas of the Learning Criteria, what
has had the greatest impact on
student achievement/success?

Which of the Learning Criteria has

caused you the greatest difficulty
(buy-in, measurement, success, etc.)?
How have you addressed it?

How does the Learning Criteria

impact the way you are redesigning
your school?

What impact has the Learning Criteria

had on conversations among staff
members? Give an example.

Criteria
Core Academic Learning (Achievement in the core
subjects of English language arts, math and science
and others identified by the school)

Stretch Learning (Demonstration of rigorous and

relevant learning beyond the minimum requirements)

Learner Engagement (The extent to which students

are motivated and committed to learning; have a sense
of belonging and accomplishment; and have
relationships with adults, peers, and parents that
support learning)

Personal Skill Development (Measures of

personal, social, service, and leadership skills; and

demonstrations of positive behaviors and attitudes)

Learning Criteria to
Support 21st Century
Learners

Measure what matters

Achieve what you believe