Sustainability Report - Dell

Community Growth and LearningDell believes that access to technology and digital literacy arekeys to success in the 21 st century economy. To assist Dell communities'future growth, Dell supports a number of communityengagements that help build these skills.21 st Century SkillsAs the leading provider of technology to the educationalcommunity, Dell is committed to helping students build the 21 stcentury skills needed to compete in the global economy. Wehelp by providing comprehensive solutions that assist schoolsin reaching their educational goals, and by making technologymore affordable and accessible to students and schools.As a founding member of the Partnership for 21 st Century Skills,Dell has helped develop a vision for 21 st century learning. Thevision involves teaching skills such as information gathering,analytical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, communication,and technology proficiency.Today's teachers and students know that it is not enough forstudents to master software programs for presentations andspreadsheets. Businesses look for employees who can translatedata into recommendations and strategies, and then usetechnology to communicate those ideas effectively.Partnership for 21 st Century Skills issues reports, publications,tools and resources in an effort to promote this vision for 21 stcentury education. The following information about tools andresources is available at www.21stcenturyskills.org:• The Assessment of 21 st Century Skills report offers educationalassessments that support 21 st century learning anddefines key terms and concepts for measurement.• Learning for the 21 st Century articulates a collective visionfor learning and recommends how to define and integrateskills into K-12 curricula.• Milestones for Improving Learning and Education (MILE)Guide for 21 st Century Skills is a self-assessment tool thatassists schools, districts and states in determining progressby their school or district in defining, teaching and assessingthose skills.• The Road to 21 st Century Learning: A Policymakers Guide to21 st Century Skills assists state education leaders in craftingvisionary education policies and gives policymakers specificguidance to help create a 21 st century learning environment.• Route 21: An Interactive Guide to 21 st Century Learning isa collection of Web-based tools designed to promoteachievement of information and communications technology(ICT) literacy and 21 st century skills. This guide presentsexamples, resources, recommendations, tools and goals ineach of nine key areas that support a coherent frameworkfor 21 st century education.• The ICT Literacy Maps illustrate the intersection betweenICT literacy and core academic subjects and assist policymakersand educators in understanding how to integrate ICTliteracy into core subjects.• The Resource Database provides a comprehensive list ofresources relating to 21 st century skills, ICT literacy, andprofessional development to assist in creating this educationfor students.21 st Century Skills in North CarolinaDell was the first business to support North Carolina's Centerfor 21 st Century Skills with a leadership gift. Dell's financial andleadership support for this unique national public-private initiativewill establish a center to bring together educators, administratorsand the business community to identify the skillsneeded to compete successfully in the global economy. Thecenter also helps children to prepare for the future and focuseson competencies such as sophisticated analytical and thinkingskills, technology and media literacy, global awareness andhigh-level learning skills—the skills that are critical to successin a constantly changing, global economy.Dell's Professional Development for EducatorsAt Dell, we understand that the ultimate promise oftechnology is the direct impact it can have on teaching andlearning. Dell's Professional Development for Educators programis committed to not only helping school districts buildstrong, technology-driven, academic environments, but also tofostering an environment for growth in student achievementthrough outstanding professional development for teachingstaffs. For more information about the program, seewww.dell.com/educators.Operation HomelinkSince 2004, Dell has worked with Operation Homelink todonate 350 refurbished computers to the families of deployedmilitary men and women, reducing the thousands of miles thatseparate service men and women from their families to just afew keystrokes. Operation Homelink is a 501(c)(3) nonprofitorganization that gives refurbished computers at no cost tofamilies of junior enlisted (E1-E5) military so that they can keepin touch with their loved ones. For more information about thisorganization, see www.operationhomelink.org.D E L L S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y R E P O R T • F I S C A L Y E A R 2 0 0 675