Butler Technology Career and Development Schools

21st Century Skills

The following 21st Century Skills standards and benchmarks identify the critical skills,
knowledge, and expertise that every student should master to succeed in work and life in
the 21st century.
The 21st Century Skills standards were developed by the Partnership for 21st Century
Skills.
Board Review Submission: February, 2009.

Standard: Global Awareness

Benchmark A: Use 21st century skills to understand and address global issues.
Benchmark B: Learn from and work collaboratively with individuals representing
diverse cultures, religions and lifestyles in a spirit of mutual respect and
open dialogue in personal, work and community contexts.
Benchmark C: Understand other nations and cultures, including the use of non-English
languages.

Standard: Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy

Benchmark A: Know how to make appropriate personal economic choices.
Benchmark B: Understand the role of the economy in society.
Benchmark C: Use entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career
options.

Standard: Civic Literacy

Benchmark A: Participate effectively in civic life through knowing how to stay
informed and understanding governmental processes
Benchmark B: Exercise the rights and obligations of citizenship at local, state, national
and global levels
Benchmark C: Understand the local and global implications of civic decisions.

Standard: Health Literacy

Benchmark A: Obtain, interpreting and understanding basic health information and
services and using such information and services in ways that are health
enhancing
Benchmark B: Understand preventive physical and mental health measures, including
proper diet, nutrition, exercise, risk avoidance and stress reduction.
Benchmark C: Use available information to make appropriate health-related decisions.
Benchmark D: Establish and monitoring personal and family health goals.
Benchmark E: Understand national and international public health and safety issues.

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Standard: Creativity & Innovation
Benchmark A: Demonstrate originality and inventiveness in work.
Benchmark B: Develop, implementing and communicating new ideas to others.
Benchmark C: Be open and responsive to new and diverse perspectives.

Standard: Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Benchmark A: Exercise sound reasoning and understanding.
Benchmark B: Make complex choices and decisions.
Benchmark C: Understand the interconnections among systems.
Benchmark D: Identify and asking significant questions that clarify various points of view
and lead to better solutions.
Benchmark E: Frame, analyzing and synthesizing information in order to solve problems
and answers questions.

Standard: Communication & Collaboration

Benchmark A: Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively through speaking and
writing.
Benchmark B: Demonstrate ability to work effectively with diverse teams.
Benchmark C: Exercise flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary
comprises to accomplish a common goal.
Benchmark C: Assume shared responsibility for collaborative work.

Standard: Information Literacy

Benchmark A: Access information efficiently and effectively, evaluating information
critically, and competently and using information accurately and creatively for
the issue or problem at hand.
Benchmark B: Possess a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues
surrounding the access and use of information.

Standard: Media Literacy

Benchmark A: Understand how media messages are constructed, for what purposes and
using which tools, characteristics and conventions.
Benchmark B: Examine how individuals interpret messages differently, how values and
points of view are included or excluded and how media can influence
beliefs and behaviors.
Benchmark C: Examine how individuals interpret messages differently, how values and
points of view are included or excluded and how media can influence
beliefs and behaviors. Possess a fundamental understanding of the
ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information.

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Standard: ICT (Information, Communications & Technology) Literacy
Benchmark A: Use digital technology, communication tools and/or networks
appropriately to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, and create
information in order to function in a knowledge economy.
Benchmark B: Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate
information, and the possession of a fundamental understanding of the
ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information.

Standard: Flexibility and Adaptability

Benchmark A: Adapt to varied roles and responsibilities
Benchmark B: Work effectively in a climate of ambiguity and changing priorities

Standard: Initiative and Self-Direction

Benchmark A: Monitor one’s own understanding and learning needs.
Benchmark B: Go beyond basic mastery of skills and/or curriculum to explore and
expand one’s own learning and opportunities to gain expertise.
Benchmark C: Demonstrate initiative to advance skill levels towards a professional level.
Benchmark D: Define, prioritize and complete tasks without direct oversight.

Standard: Social and Cross-Cultural Skills

Benchmark A: Work appropriately and productively with others.
Benchmark B: Leverage the collective intelligence of groups when appropriate.
Benchmark C: Bridge cultural differences and using differing perspectives to increase
innovation and the quality of work.

Standard: Productivity and Accountability

Benchmark A: Set and meet high standards and goals for delivering quality work on time.
Benchmark B: Demonstrate diligence and a positive work ethic (e.g., being punctual and
reliable)

Standard: Leadership and Responsibility

Benchmark A: Use interpersonal and problem-solving skills to influence and guide others
toward a goal.
Benchmark B: Leverage strengths of others to accomplish a common goal.
Benchmark C: Demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior.
Benchmark D: Act responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind.