21st Century Skills
The global economy calls for new skills like critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation.
National Initiative: Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills
The Institute's Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century Skills initiative underscores the critical role our nation’s museums and libraries play in helping citizens build such 21st century skills as information, communications and technology literacy, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, civic literacy, and global awareness.
Search the Awarded Grants database for grants to programs that strengthen 21st century skills (issue areas have only been assigned to grants awarded since FY 2009)
21st century skills content on the IMLS Web site:
February 11, 2013 12:24 PM
IMLS is expanding opportunities for libraries and museums to support the 2013 National STEM Video Game Challenge, which is now excepting applications.
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November 8, 2012 07:57 AM
Learning Labs Foster Creativity and Collaboration through Creation in STEM and Beyond.
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September 14, 2012 08:48 AM
Lack of digital skills impacts the lives millions of Americans. This new resource will provide free high quality tools and training.
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February 13, 2013 07:42 AM
New resource highlights the positive outcomes of learning after school and during the summer.
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December 20, 2012 03:08 PM
Maker spaces are part of a growing movement of hands-on, mentor-led environments that encourage entrepreneurship and unleash the inner inventor in all of us, particularly children.
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October 17, 2012 08:40 AM
Director Hildreth identifies five strategies for museums and libraries that are making a difference in their communities.
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This report outlines a vision for the role of libraries and museums in the national dialogue around learning and 21st century skills and includes case studies of innovative audience engagement and 21st century skills practices from across the country.
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Quick summary of makerspaces -- hands-on, mentor-led learning environments to make and
remake the physical and digital worlds -- in museums and libraries.
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August 11, 2010 03:54 PM
In this podcast, Acting Director Marsha L. Semmel explains: 1) What are 21st century skills? 2) Where did the 21st century skills movement come from? 3) Where do museums and libraries fit in the 21st century skills movement? Semmel also describes Making the Learning Connection, IMLS’s national campaign to better understand the opportunities, challenges, and key issues facing today’s museums and libraries in their efforts to meet their communities’ 21st century learning needs. The campaign includes an eight-city workshop tour, a national contest, new online tools and resources, and a series of interactive webinars.
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