| Task Force Recommends Integration of 21st Century Skills Throughout K12 System; Calls For Changes to Educator Preparation, Assessment and Accountability |
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MALDEN - To compete successfully for tomorrow's jobs, today's students will need to learn to be future leaders who can think creatively, work collaboratively, use technology to solve problems and take initiative. Doing this right will require educators to dramatically change their thinking and expectations of public education by integrating the use of 21st century skills in every subject and at every grade to prompt students to learn the skills as they learn the content, according to recommendations presented on Tuesday to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education by its Task Force on 21st Century Skills. "Today's employers have been clear that basic skills just aren't enough to be successful in today's high-technology, fast moving global economy anymore," said Board member Gerald Chertavian, who chaired the Task Force. "We need to take bold steps now to move our system of public education forward so that our students will have the academic knowledge, tools and skills they will need to be successful when they leave our schools. "The definition of 21st century skills stems from extensive research done on the real skills employers nationwide say they need, and have led to the development of the Partnership on 21st Century Skills and statewide efforts across the country. The catch-all phrase covers a spectrum of skills and abilities ranging from critical thinking to creativity, innovation to leadership, global awareness to media and financial literacy.The 22-member Task Force (see attached list) was formed in April by then Board chair and current Education Secretary Paul Reville, and tasked with developing a set of recommendations for ways to integrate 21st century skills into the state's educational program through improvements to existing standards, assessment tools, measures of accountability and professional development efforts. -Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education |
