Realizing the Promise of 21st-Century Education: An Owner's Manual

This practitioner-focused guide presents a vision of school change whose goal is to prepare students to meet the needs of 21st-century workplaces and communities. The authors, who have been involved in major reform initiatives at the school, district, and state levels, believe that effective professional development of teachers and leaders is essential to bridging the gap between what students are currently learning in our nation's schools and what they need to succeed in today's workplaces. They propose strengthening the standard descriptions of 21st- century skills by adding the dimension of moral and ethical understanding. Detailed descriptions of 21st-century professional development designs and case studies based on actual schools and districts help readers to understand the steps involved in actualizing the vision.

About The Authors:

Bruce Joyce grew up in New Jersey, was educated at Brown University, and, after military service, taught in the schools of Delaware. He was a professor at the University of Delaware, the University of Chicago, and Teachers College, Columbia University, where he directed the laboratory school and the elementary teacher education program. His research, writing, and consultation are focused on models of teaching, professional development design and implementation, school renewal, and programs for K12 beginning readers and Grade 3-12 struggling readers. Primary topics of his speaking and consultation include Teaching Methods, Curriculum and Content, Staff Development, and 21^st Century School Renewal. He lives in Saint Simons Island, Georgia, and can be reached via e-mail at brucejoyce40@gmail.com. With Emily Calhoun, his most recent book is Models of Professional Development (2010). Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.

Emily Calhoun currently focusses on school improvement and professional development, where she combines practice and research. She specializes in the language arts, particularly the teaching of reading and writing in the elementary grades and literacy development K-12, including programs for struggling readers.

She writes and consults on action research, The Picture-Word Inductive Model of Teaching, and ways of incorporating digital technologies into K-12 learning environments through the development of hybrid courses.

She lives in Saint Simons Island, Georgia.