21st Century Skills
Goal: Connecting 21st Century Skills to careers in biology
1. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Question: Can you look at a situation and develop a question to study? How would you investigate that question?
Skill Needed: Using Problem Solving in the Workplace
Career Profile: Crime Scene Investigator
2. Collaboration across Networks and Leading by Influence
Question: Have you ever played on a sports team, participated in a choir, or babysat younger siblings?
Skill Needed: Working together with your coworkers on a project
Career Profiles: Museum Collections Manager
3. Agility and Adaptability
Question: When playing computer games or learning to use your new MP3 player, did it take some time to learn all of the new features?
If you have worked at more than one place, you have had to change your work habits or style.
Skill Needed: Being able to adjust to changing work conditions
Career Profiles: Science Educator
4. Initiative and Entrepreneurialism
Question: When you play the role of a leader you often need to come up with creative solutions.
Skills Needed: Thinking “on your feet”, being innovative
Career Profiles: Critical Care Nurse
5. Effective Oral and Written Communication
Question:When you applied for a job, did you fill out an application? If you visiting a new city and are lost, how can you get help to find your way.
Skills Needed: Practice summarizing and presenting information to others orally and in writing
Career Profiles: Science Writer or Editor
6. Accessing and Analyzing Information
Question: Living in the information age, the world is at our fingertips. How do you interpret this information? Do you believe everything you see on television or read
on- line?
Skills needed: Higher order thinking and processing.
Career Profile: Research Scientist
7. Curiosity and Imagination
Question: We are all born scientists, asking questions as children. “Why do I need to go to bed?” “How do trees get to be so big?” “Why do I need to eat my
veggies?”Developing imaginative solutions that set you apart from the crowd.
Needed Skills: Asking questions and developing creative solutions.
Career Profile: NASA Nutritionist
1. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Question: Can you look at a situation and develop a question to study? How would you investigate that question?
Skill Needed: Using Problem Solving in the Workplace
Career Profile: Crime Scene Investigator
2. Collaboration across Networks and Leading by Influence
Question: Have you ever played on a sports team, participated in a choir, or babysat younger siblings?
Skill Needed: Working together with your coworkers on a project
Career Profiles: Museum Collections Manager
3. Agility and Adaptability
Question: When playing computer games or learning to use your new MP3 player, did it take some time to learn all of the new features?
If you have worked at more than one place, you have had to change your work habits or style.
Skill Needed: Being able to adjust to changing work conditions
Career Profiles: Science Educator
4. Initiative and Entrepreneurialism
Question: When you play the role of a leader you often need to come up with creative solutions.
Skills Needed: Thinking “on your feet”, being innovative
Career Profiles: Critical Care Nurse
5. Effective Oral and Written Communication
Question:When you applied for a job, did you fill out an application? If you visiting a new city and are lost, how can you get help to find your way.
Skills Needed: Practice summarizing and presenting information to others orally and in writing
Career Profiles: Science Writer or Editor
6. Accessing and Analyzing Information
Question: Living in the information age, the world is at our fingertips. How do you interpret this information? Do you believe everything you see on television or read
on- line?
Skills needed: Higher order thinking and processing.
Career Profile: Research Scientist
7. Curiosity and Imagination
Question: We are all born scientists, asking questions as children. “Why do I need to go to bed?” “How do trees get to be so big?” “Why do I need to eat my
veggies?”Developing imaginative solutions that set you apart from the crowd.
Needed Skills: Asking questions and developing creative solutions.
Career Profile: NASA Nutritionist
