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21st Century Skills

The global economy calls for new skills like critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation.

Museums, Libraries, and 21st Century SkillsNational 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.

Stem Video Game Challenge logoPartnership: STEM Video Game Challenge
IMLS is a National Community Sponsor of the National STEM Video Game Challenge. The Challenge, now in its third year, was inspired by President Obama’s "Educate to Innovate" Campaign, promoting science, technology, engineering and math education.

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:
Everyone On
Blog Post: Everyone On! Libraries Play Essential Role in Connect2Compete Campaign

March 21, 2013 10:51 AM
A public awareness campaign launches today that will help empower people who aren’t Internet users, to get the training they need to get online. Read More

 
Blog Post: Whose Learning Is It Anyway? (WebWise 2013)

March 14, 2013 02:01 PM
As everything from report cards to student artwork goes digital, WebWise Keynote speaker Audrey Watters asks “Whose Learning is it Anyway?” Read More

 
IMLS Director and partners meet at HUD
Blog Post: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Best Buy Announce Connect 2 Compete Partnership

February 15, 2013 03:44 PM
Launch of digital literacy training initiative will reach residents of public housing. Read More

 
Expanded Learning
Blog Post: Out-of-School Takes Center Stage

February 13, 2013 07:42 AM
New resource highlights the positive outcomes of learning after school and during the summer. Read More

 
photo of a boy using tools at Maker Faire
Blog Post: Makers on the Move in Libraries and Museums

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. Read More