The mission of iLEAD Lancaster Charter School is to empower students to become conscientious, compassionate, and responsible citizens of the world. In this process we inspire them to become creative thinkers and leaders, with a lifelong love of learning. We accomplish this through individualized instruction, active instructional methods and opportunities for self-directed learning. We celebrate and foster each child's individuality, and support them in discovering their highest potential. We believe each child will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to achieve his or her fullest potential in preparation for college and the demands of the 21st century workplace.
For 21st century success, students will need skill sets far beyond those that are mandated in the densely packed standards -- and what is evaluated on bubble tests. Students also need to acquire a set of skills that will last for a lifetime. To be able to solve problems in our complex, fast-changing world, students must become nimble, creative thinkers who can work well with others
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21.org) Have identified a set of skills critical for success in the 21st Century work place called the "4Cs" They include the following:
Collaboration: Students are able to work effectively with diverse groups and exercise flexibility in making compromises to achieve common goals.
Creativity: Students are able to generate and improve on original ideas and also work creatively with others.
Communication: Students are able to communicate effectively across multiple media and for various purposes.
Critical thinking: Students are able to analyze, evaluate, and understand complex systems and apply strategies to solve problems.
As stated in "A Parent's Guide to 21st Century Learning" (Edutopia.com) "The 4Cs don't replace academic learning goals. Students still need to become good readers and writers, even though they may be learning and publishing on new platforms. Using mathematics to solve problems, and seeing the world through the lens of the scientist are essential for today's learners. Students also need to draw their own findings from history's lessons. The ambitious goal is to integrate 21st-century skills with rigorous core content so that students will master the 4Cs and the three Rs.
Schools are accomplishing this tall order via exciting new approaches. Through project-based learning, students investigate real-world problems and design their own solutions. Students use technology not just to access valuable content but also to create it. By working collaboratively, students are tackling big issues - in their communities and the larger world. Through effective teamwork, they're also honing important
social skills, learning to respect diverse viewpoints and to resolve conflicts peacefully.
iLEAD, in partnership with our families, is committed to bringing 21st Century Learning to our school. For more information about the importance of implementing 21st Century Learning, see the videos below.
