Executive summary: Defining a 21st Century education — from The Center for Public Education; full report here (PDF)
Excerpt:
A number of major forces are reshaping skill demands. Those forces include:
Automation.
Globalization.
Corporate change.
Demographics.
Risk and responsibility.
As a result of these forces, three kinds of learning are becoming increasingly important if not essential for students to succeed in work and life:
1) Traditional academic knowledge and skills. The belief that students will no longer need to learn the academic content traditionally taught in the school curriculum is false. Students will need strong math and English skills to succeed in work and life, for example. A strong academic foundation also is essential for success in postsecondary education and training, which itself is increasingly necessary for anyone who wants to earn a middle class wage.
Insert here from DSC:
I’d really like to see more emphasis on music, arts, and disciplines/courses/programs that aim to capture and address many of the passions that our students may have. Too often what gets cut these days is what it seems like we are coming to need more of: creativity, design, thinking outside the box. Another way to look at is this: Why are we approaching 30% drop out rates in many of our educational systems?Is there a better way to utilize people’s talents?
Along these lines, I believe everyone has certain abilities and passions — our job is to find out what those are and to utilize them (and to help others utilize theirs) to the best of our ability.
In economic terms, if we do that, it creates a WIN-WIN situation — everyone benefits when we do what we do best. So I guess that I’m saying, “Let’s not exclude non-STEM-related programs in developing a 21st century educational plan”.
2) Real world application, or “applied literacies.” Students will need not just knowledge but also “literacy”—the ability to apply their learning to meet real-world challenges. That applies to all subjects, including English, math, science, and social studies.
3) Broader competencies. Students who develop an even broader set of competencies will be at an increasing advantage in work and life. Based on employer surveys and other evidence, the most important seem to be:
1. The ability solve new problems and think critically;
2. Strong interpersonal skills necessary for communication and collaboration;
3. Creativity and intellectual flexibility; and
4. Self sufficiency, including the ability to learn new things when necessary.
