Global Awareness: Developing 21st Century Skills in the Classroom

Audience: Primary Years Programme
Audience: Middle Years Programme
Audience: Diploma Programme
Audience: Research
Audience: General Interest
Session: Block 6: Saturday 3:45 to 5:00, Room: Seacliff A and B

"Partnerships between business leaders and educators are all the rage these days. Perhaps the pre-eminent organization in the field is The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21), which has emerged as the leading advocacy organization focused on infusing 21st century skills into education. One of the essential skills P21 has identified is global awareness, and that is where the missions of IB and P21 intersect. Karen Cator, the Director of Education for Apple, Inc, and a past board chair of P21, will explore that intersection as she discusses the skills that students need to succeed as effective citizens, workers and leaders in the 21st century.
This session will explore the contextual meaning of global awareness, trying to define the concrete reasons why students and schools should care if their education promotes a global viewpoint. While participants will discover the profound gap between the knowledge and skills most students learn in school and the knowledge and skills they need in typical 21st century communities and workplaces, there will also be an interactive sharing of successful strategies to address this gap. This is a unique opportunity to hear from a thought leader in a quickly emerging area of educational policy. Please join us.
"


Karen Cator, Past Chair, Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Karen Cator directs Apple's leadership and advocacy efforts in education. In this role, she is responsible for strategic business development, managing Apple’s involvement in education policy efforts, Apple Professional Development, the Apple Distinguished Educator Program and the publishing of media rich teaching and learning practices on the Apple Learning Interchange. Cator came to Apple in 1997 from the public education sector, most recently leading technology planning and implementation in Juneau, Alaska. She also served as Special Assistant for Telecommunications for the Lieutenant Governor of Alaska. Cator holds a master’s degree in School Administration from the University of Oregon and bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Springfield College. She is the immediate past chair of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and serves on the several boards including the Software & Information Industry Association (Education Division).