A framework for a 21st-century education

So what is the framework for a 21st-century education? As it happens, for the past eight years a group of business leaders and educators known as the Partnership for 21st Century Skills has been working on this very question. (You will note some real heavyweights on this list.) Here’s a synopsis of what they've come up with.  

Their work is based on the growing recognition that a mastery of course content (such as is measured by your typical standardized test) is no longer sufficient for success in the 21st century. This is because most of the jobs - including, increasingly, many 'white collar' jobs - that used to be the gateway to a successful middle-class life involve routine work that has, or will soon be, automated, computerized or out-sourced.

So the next generation of graduates will need more than mastery of the ‘3 Rs”. When the Partnership asked employers which skills should receive additional emphasis in school, this is what they heard: Economy
•    The ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing 89%
•    Critical Thinking/Analytical Reasoning Skills 81%
•    The ability to apply knowledge and skills to real-world settings 79%
•    The ability to analyze and solve complex problems 75%
•    The ability to connect actions to ethical decisions 75%

Similarly, another survey, referring specifically to high school graduates, identified these deficiencies:
•    Written Communication 81%
•    Leadership 73%
•    Work Ethic 70%
•    Critical Thinking & Problem Solving 70%
•    Self-Direction 58%

This lead the Partnership to identify the following framework of essential thinking skills (the “four C’s”)
•    Critical thinking and problem solving
•    Communication
•    Collaboration
•    Creativity and innovation

Of course, mastery of core subjects - reading and language arts, world languages, mathematics, economics, science, geography, history, government, civics and the arts – continues to be important. “Critical-thinking” and collaboration don’t occur in a vacuum.

But in addition, students need to develop life and career skills such as: Flexibility, Adaptability, Initiative and Self-Direction, Social and Cross-Cultural Skills, Productivity and Accountability, Leadership and Responsibility. It will also become increasingly important for students to develop literacy in Global Awareness; Finance and Business; Civics; Health; the Environment; and Information and Media

It should be noted that very little of this is currently “tested”.

The good news for State College is that we have long recognized the importance of 21st century skills, as evidenced by the “10 characteristics of a State High grad”:
•    a responsible and involved citizen
•    a clear and effective communicator
•    a competent problem solver who thinks critically and creatively
•    a productive individual who works independently and collaboratively
•    one who demonstrates respects for self and others in an increasingly diverse society
•    a user of evolving technologies
•    a knowledgeable practitioner of wellness behaviors
•    an informed consumer and effective manager of personal and family resources
•    a responsible steward of the environment
•    a participant in the arts

The challenge for us continues to be: how do we go about this admirable goal in an intentional and deliberate way?

The key is integration. There isn’t time in the school day to teach a course in critical-thinking, so schools will need to find ways to intentionally embed these skills within the core curriculum.

And here’s the question for school leadership: will we commit ourselves to helping students develop the capacity for critical-thinking, citizenship and creativity - even if these skills are not measured on The Test?