A natural synergy

There is a natural synergy between two of (what ought to be) the most important ideas in education reform: 21st-century skills and school climate.

To review: the concept of 21st-century skills is based on the understanding that in order to prepare today’s students for successful careers and lives, nearly every student will need far more than the primarily content-based education that most of us received if we went to school in the 20th century. They will also need learning and application skills, such as:
    * Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
    * Communication and Collaboration
    * Creativity and Innovation

Good communication skills will be essential: how to communicate with different audiences, in multiple ways; knowing when to speak and how to listen. They’ll need to understand and balance diverse views in order to reach workable solutions, particularly in multi-cultural environments. (What I refer to as ‘deliberative skills’.)

Tomorrow’s citizens will need to be able to work with others collaboratively, but also know how to lead. They’ll need to be flexible and adaptable. They will need a deep understanding that learning is a life-long and self-directed process. To a far greater extent than our generation, they’ll need to make their own way.

Much of this may not sound all that revolutionary; what’s changed is that in tomorrow’s world, every student will need to be so equipped. There used to be an understanding that only the ‘elite’ students needed these skills, which they’d pick up when they went off to college. 

Most schools, however, are not currently designed to accomplish these outcomes for average students. How do we get there?

One of the keys will be that we pay much closer attention to the school's learning environment, also referred to as "school climate”.

School climate is defined as “the character and quality of school life”. This includes:
     • school norms, goals, and values
     • the nature of interpersonal relationships (student-student, student-adult and adult-adult)
     • teaching and learning practices
     • leadership styles and organizational structure.

The first argument for the importance of school climate is obvious. Students are more likely to learn when they feel physically, emotionally and intellectually safe, when their classes are engaging, and when their voice is valued (key elements of a positive school climate). 

There is also what we now know from brain research: learning performance is deeply affected by the student-teacher relationship and the emotional environment in which learning takes place. (By the way, business leaders increasingly understand the significance of employer-employee relationships on business success.)

Similarly, teachers are more effective when they have opportunities for professional growth and collaboration with other teachers, and when the insights gained from years of experience are valued. Parents are better positioned to help their children with their education if they feel welcomed and valued in the school.

This may all seem obvious, but it doesn’t occur consistently without focused, intentional effort.

The second argument is more direct: many of the characteristics of a positive school climate model for students these essential skills.

To take an obvious example, a school environment in which collaboration is the norm helps to develop collaborative skills in students. Similarly, a teacher who encourages students to ask their own questions, in so doing, helps to develop their critical-thinking skills.

Well, you get the point, but I’ll suggest one more that gets to the heart of several key 21st-century skills: ”the school community develops practices that promote social and civic responsibility”.