21st Century Literacy and Learning

PCG Education brings together technology, planning, professional development, and educational expertise in its work with schools, districts, regional partners, and state education agencies to prepare students for college, career, and citizenship in the 21st century.

PCG is a professional development affiliate of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills

District 21st Century Literacy and Learning Audits – PCG uses multiple data collection strategies to audit the district's current approach to literacy and learning. Educational experts analyze what is in place and make specific recommendations to better prepare students for the 21st century. Audits include an assessment of classroom instruction, district and school capacity, teacher knowledge and skills, and technology infrastructure supports.

State of the Art Action Planning – PCG educational experts work closely with district personnel using PCG's SkoVision technology to support guided strategic planning, including the setting of measurable goals and putting progress monitoring in place. The result: school level action plans are tightly aligned with district goals, and districts and schools can track progress toward full implementation of 21st century teaching and learning.

Leadership Coaching – PCG works with district and school leadership teams on implementation of action plans, including how to launch an effective district-wide 21st century literacy and learning campaign, conduct progress monitoring, bring teachers on board, make purchasing decisions, observe in classrooms, roll out the initiative in phases, and hold teachers and students accountable.

Teacher Professional Development – PCG professional development services build teacher capacity and teacher learning networks. Designs are customized to meet district goals and needs and aligned with National Staff Development Council (NSDC) standards for effective professional development. Consultants from PCG or its national partnership network provide teachers with practical applications, resources, materials, and in-person and online support.

All PCG 21st Century Literacy and Learning clients become part of a professional learning network that offers resources, the latest research, dissemination of promising practices, access to experts, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

What are 21st century skills?

PCG's approach to 21st century skills is anchored in our belief and expertise in an expanded definition of literacy. The literacy demands of the 21st century are higher than ever before in history. It is no longer enough to read and write straightforward text and be considered literate.

These literacy habits and skills are the core of what it means to be prepared to meet the career, college, and citizenship needs of the 21st century. These skills must be taught across all content areas. Are your schools helping students develop these new basic skills? At PCG Education, we help educators prepare students to meet the literacy and learning challenges of the 21st century.

Why should districts work with us on their 21st century skills initiative?

Our approach is systemic–we help your district define your initiative and set goals, and then we work directly with school leaders and participating teachers at the selected demonstration schools.

Our approach is data driven–we begin with collecting data about current practices and outcomes, assist with setting measurable goals, and then support the schools and the district in using data to track implementation and monitor progress.

We provide a technology–enhanced delivery and implementation–from the initial audit, through action planning into implementation, technology-based tools help districts achieve their project goals supporting data collection, strategic planning, teacher professional development, leadership coaching, progress monitoring, and sharing and dissemination of promising practices.

Our approach is community based–we connect our districts with one another and with ongoing support so a virtual learning community is developed and expands with every new district that participates, allowing our clients to share examples, approaches, action plans, and outcomes.

Our definition of 21st century skills aligns with the current research on literacy and learning, focusing on the reading, writing, communication, critical thinking, and collaboration skills students need to succeed in school and beyond.