21st Century Skills

After seeing the website for 21st Century Learning I felt relieved that a large organization with considerable financial backing is helping to guide schools to better align their goals and curriculum with the 21st Century business environment. I have heard of the organization before, but it still seems like the message has not been fully implemented. Most schools in my area are still more concerned about standardized test scores, AP tests, scholarships and national rankings than preparing their students for the modern workplace. Tests are geared toward core subjects, and the most gifted students are pushed by counselors to take AP courses, which are mainly offered for core classes like language arts, math, social studies, and science.
The surprising truth is that while these subjects are important, the interdisciplinary themes mentioned in the Framework for 21st Century Learning are more important. If a student has memorized facts about the Sherman and Clayton Acts to pass an exam but cannot apply the principles to current business situations then what is the point? If a student has the ability to solve complex mathematical equations but does not understand the time value of money then how valuable are their skills?
One skill the site did not mention was an understanding of how technology works. There is no reason why our students should not know how a computer works and how the internet works as well. This knowledge would apply to all fields of work, because nearly every business uses a computer, and knowing how it works can prevent a lot of problems and increase efficiency.
The implication for my students is that they are expected to know more and be able to apply more than their predecessors. This should be expected, because their resources are far more vast than students before them. The implication for teachers is that they are expected to answer the age-old question “Why do we need to know this?”; teachers need to be able to apply their discipline to the 21sy century workplace their students will eventually enter.