For those that know me, I started out my career many moons ago as a K-12 educator. For some of you, I’m sure you’re thinking, “what a lunatic”. I only lasted three years but I look back on those years, nevertheless, with the fondest of memories. Truth be told though, I didn’t last because I was in the minority. As a 25 year-old trying to uproot the education system to become more collaborative, more open, more connected, I was leery of falling into the ambivalence pit of staffroom rhetoric. I was in the minority of trying to bring the education system to its knees. Why had it remained a system unchanged for the past five centuries? Why wasn’t there a change afoot? But, alas, I was young, naïve and perhaps a little pig-headed. Fast forward many moons later, through career stops in higher education and the corporate world of learning and collaboration, I’m finally coming back to those K-12 days. I’m back because the so-called 21st Century Learning movement is no longer trying to merely flank the system; it’s a full-frontal assault. And that’s bringing an ear-to-ear smile to this follicly challenged head. I’ve always considered the education space to be somewhat similar in overall intent regardless of audience. Whether at the K-12 bracket, higher education or corporate, I’ve had the fortune of working in and with all three audience groups. Learning is forever part formal, informal and social. (more on that concept from me over here) As it relates specifically to the K-12 domain, however, I believe the entire spectrum (administrators, parents, teachers, students, publishers, vendors, politicians, etc.) requires one simple model to help shift the thinking and to bring the discourse to a state of actually doing something about it. Enough talk, let’s get on with it. For the past few years, I’ve been mentally musing such a model for the K-12 domain. It may not yet be fully formulated, but it’s as good a time as ever to put it ‘out there’ to get your feedback and thoughts, should you be so inclined to help bring it over the finish line. And to be clear, I’m not referring to the skills that are often referenced in 21st Century Learning discussions. I’m focusing my efforts on three pillars that need to be thought through in order to bring 21st Century Learning thinking to actual production. It’s not the ‘how’ of 21st Century Learning, but it’s the ‘what we need’ to be successful point of view. I’m also not discussing budgets; various levels of government, industry, school boards, unions and the like simply need to get on with this evolution.