Measuring 21st-Century Skills

The following information was obtained from eSchool News. I thought it was really worth pointing out that technology literacy is still very much in the works and coming down the pipeline for testing purposes.

Our country's global economic success in the future depends on K-20 graduates honing their "21st Century Skills." Today's tech-savvy generation has no shortage of user-friendly devices...and they know how to use them. But are they putting these tech skills to good use? You've heard of the 3Rs, but what about the 5Cs such as critical thinking, creative problem solving, communications, collaboration and cross-cultural relationship building?

Beginning in 2012, "tech literacy" will be added to our Nation's Report Card. This means student proficiency in the application of technology will be measured for the first time. It isn't just layering technology over traditional core competencies, though. It's about totally integrating the two for success in an increasingly competitive world.

In preparation for the coming technology assessment, educational leaders are seeing heightened pressure to provide hard data on how well their students are progressing, how effective their teachers are, and how technology instruction is helping students solve real-world problems.

To help you prepare, eSchool News has compiled an extensive resource library that addresses all these issues and provides first-hand experience from educators who have successfully met the challenges. We invite you to access this free Educator Resource Center right now to find out how your students and teachers can pass the test on "21st Century Skills."

-- The eSchool News Editors