“We must change the way we are educating our children to make sure they have the necessary 21st century skills to thrive in a future they’re going to invent and create – and we need to start now.”
It is our belief that the failure by today’s education systems to provide learners with the skills and attributes they need for a happy, peaceful and prosperous life in the 21st century is due to the very nature of a rigid, entrenched system firmly rooted in the past. This has led to an inability by most educators to re-engineer both their own teaching methods and the systems within which they work.
21 Foundation was created to take up the challenge of facilitating a global change in learning. There is no comprehensive learning model reflecting 21st century realities. It is the foundation’s position that the world needs a new comprehensive, integrated, universally available 21st Century Learning Model to move us forward.
21 Foundation will focus collaboratively with partners to develop such a model that is accessible by all. This model will be a comprehensive, integrated program for children from pre-primary – secondary school (ages 5 – 18), and will reflect new understandings in learning and reflect the technological world in which we live. It will be based upon nine core learning elements, as shown below.
The goal is to have this model start a fire of change in education that will transform the current system and make education more fun and enlightening for millions of children.
The learning model will be developed with the involvement of the 21 Foundation community; please check back soon to find out how you can be involved.
The 21 Century Learning Model will:
- Include a comprehensive integrated learning and assessment program, for children from pre-primary – secondary school (ages 5 – 18)
- Bring together 21st century education practice and research on a comprehensive and integrated basis and be rooted in the science of learning
- Include both teacher and parent training
- Focus on individual potential and global citizenship and responsibility through personal exploration
- Be a guiding resource and vision for parents, educators and students
- Be user friendly to enable people with basic literacy to utilize the Learning Model
- Be available free to underdeveloped nations in multiple languages
Core Learning Elements
| Element | Primary Focus | See, Hear & Feel |
| Human Coexistence | To embrace the concept that man has a responsibility to respect and value themselves and each other mindfully. | individual / group / societal values, respect, team work, collaboration, sharing, responsibility |
| Earth Coexistence | To responsibly coexist with the Earth. | sustainability of life, use of resources, food production, environmental quality |
| Inquiry | To enable learners to nurture their innate curiosity through the inquiry process | thematic inquiry of topics, teachers support the learner’s inquiry, learner-led and focused |
| Creativity | To imagine something and turn it into a reality | an ongoing process of students using their mental creativity to explore new areas of thought |
| Learning Processes | To hardwire an array of processes that engage learners in learning how to learn | problem solving, design, scientific method, interviewing, presentations and other processes to enable learners to engage more meaningfully in their own learning |
| Digital Tools | To maximize the utilization of digital tools to carry out research, author understanding and to communicate | These tools will be utilized in a relevant way to enhance learning |
| Learning Environments | To construct environments that are conducive to learning and taking risks | Learning environments must be safe, enable risk-taking, and ensure a healthy mental state of the learner |
| Holistic Integration | Integration of mind, body and spirit | The integration of the mind, the body and the world around us throughout the learning process |
| Empowerment | To include the learner in the decision-making process. | The enabling of the learner to be a full participant in the learning process |