Director Kathy Ennis Named to 21st Century Skills Task ForceGroup Charged with Finding Ways to Better Integrate New Skills in Schools 
From the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Specifically, the task force members will consider how the Board, through its work on standards, assessment, accountability and professional, curriculum and teacher development, can encourage school districts to provide all students with the critical skills they necessary to succeed in the 21st century economy. These skills include oral communication, information processing, critical thinking, media literacy, creativity/innovation, global awareness, cultural competency, problem-solving, teamwork/collaboration and self-directed learning and leadership. "We are not currently providing our students with all the skills they need to be successful in a technologically complex, globally competitive world," said Reville. "These skills are sometimes included in the strategies teachers use to address core subjects, but too often they are neglected. This task force will help the Board find ways to ensure all students receive a more balanced education." The task force, led by Board member and Year Up Founder Gerald Chertavian, will review existing literature on 21st Century skills, identify ways these skills can be integrated into all facets of the curriculum and prepare a white paper to assist the Board and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in further considering these issues. The Task Force members are:
|
Educating for Global Understanding
