ABSTRACT
The Internet, email, cell phones, and innovative software applications have drastically altered the way we live and work in this twenty-first century. As you read this essay, new technologies are being developed that will likely alter the way we live and work in the years to come. Author David Thornburg stated in his book, The new basics: Education and the future of work in the telematic age (2002), that the core skills necessary for the present-day worker are digital-age literacy, inventive thinking, effective communication, and high productivity. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, in their report, Learning for the 21st century (2000), cited the following learning skills as necessary to meeting the demands of the twenty-first century:
• information and media literacy skills • communication skills • critical thinking and systems thinking • problem identification, formulation, and solution • creativity and intellectual curiosity • interpersonal and collaborative skills • self-direction • accountability and adaptability • social responsibility
Most educators agree that training in technology use is essential for preparing the next generation of workers for successful careers. But in order to hone the learning skills imperative for today’s ever-changing workplaces, educators should not overlook the value of visual and performing arts in education.
