Who Uses 21st Century Skills?

This summer I had the opportunity to visit with two friends who are professional artists. One is a dynamo with technologies and art, and the other spends her time creating with oils on canvas. I was reminded when I watched them work that artists in so many ways are what 21^st Century Learning is all about. My oil painting friend is the head of her community's art's council and my techie art friend works with art educators through her Website and blog. They are creating, imagining, collaborating, innovating, communicating, and engaging in critical thinking and problem solving. They inspire others with their love of art and creating. So—when you look for good ideas for 21^st Century Learning in classrooms, think of the art teachers and all those teachers who use art (and music, too) as part of their teaching.