Today, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) released
two new “roadmaps” in geography and science. The maps provide a
framework and resources for integrating technology and other
21st century skills into core subject areas. Last year, they put
out maps for social studies and English/language arts. The new
maps were created by P21 in consultation with the National
Science Teachers Association and the National Council for
Geographic Education. What’s the problem? To begin, they include
no content. We looked through each of the standards and
activities for grades 4, 8, and 12 and could not find one
specific reference to content knowledge students would learn by
doing what P21 recommends. What we did find was a chart (pg. 16)
highlighting the characteristics of 21st century learning, P21
style. It describes 21st Century standards and assessments as
having less emphasis on “acquiring information” and on
“assessing to learn what students do not know.” So, under P21’s
plan, students will learn less and their