Presents ideas to help readers develop the skills necessary to continue learning throughout life for personal improvement and professional advancement.

A comprehensive look at the promise and potential of online learning In our digital age, students have dramatically new learning needs and must be prepared for the idea economy of the future. In Getting Smart, well-known global education expert Tom Vander Ark examines the facets of educational innovation in the United States and abroad. Vander Ark makes a convincing case for a blend of online and onsite learning, shares inspiring stories of schools and programs that effectively offer "personal digital learning" opportunities, and discusses what we need to do to remake our schools into "smart schools." Examines the innovation-driven world, discusses how to combine online and onsite learning, and reviews "smart tools" for learning Investigates the lives of learning professionals, outlines the new employment bargain, examines online universities and "smart schools" Makes the case for smart capital, advocates for policies that create better learning, studies smart cultures

SUCCESS SKILLS focuses on how to learn; thinking and communication skills; and technology and information management. Users learn success strategies required in today's academic and workplace environments. The five key areas of this text include: learning how to learn; becoming an active reader; listening, memory, and note-taking mastery; testing and critical thinking skills; and information gathering, research and writing skills. SUCCESS SKILLS positions learners to be successful in today's multifaceted workplace.

A study investigated what Scottish and English young people consider important life skills, how they believe they develop them, and how necessary they see them to their future lives. More than 200 16-21-year-olds examined photographs of events related to basic life tasks, family, close relationships, work or school and leisure activities and then identified skills involved. Life skills they identified as important largely agreed with those described by education authorities. They considered the most important, essential life skills to be communication and interpersonal skills. Young people believed these skills were also those that employers consider essential; valued and saw employment experience as the major influence in developing life skills; added creative and aesthetic skills and physical and coordination skills to the traditional list of key skills; described wide applications of problem solving and critical thinking skills; and saw family, work, friends, and school as the main influences on skill development. Future considerations were identified as school curriculum; work experience; creative and aesthetic skills and motor coordination skills; interagency cooperation; information and communication technology; socially disadvantaged young people; community education services; learning support; and promotion of a culture of learning. (Appendixes include 17 references and life skills matrixes for 16- and 21-year olds.) (YLB)

This important resource introduces a framework for 21st Century learning that maps out the skills needed to survive and thrive in a complex and connected world. 21st Century content includes the basic core subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic-but also emphasizes global awareness, financial/economic literacy, and health issues. The skills fall into three categories: learning and innovations skills; digital literacy skills; and life and career skills. This book is filled with vignettes, international examples, and classroom samples that help illustrate the framework and provide an exciting view of twenty-first century teaching and learning. Explores the three main categories of 21st Century Skills: learning and innovations skills; digital literacy skills; and life and career skills Addresses timely issues such as the rapid advance of technology and increased economic competition Based on a framework developed by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) The book contains a video with clips of classroom teaching. For more information on the book visit www.21stcenturyskillsbook.com.

This report proposes more resources be devoted to education, nationally and internationally, and for international cooperation in education with UNESCO as a key player.