The future. What do our students really need to know and be able
to do to succeed in future education and careers? Content is a
part of what they need to know. Standardized tests test content
knowledge and some skills. There are huge debates raging over
standardized testing, curriculum, and the like. But what it is
that students really need to know for the future. Hint: it isn't
all content. Content is important to a point. Having certain
knowledge of facts and information helps us put things in
context as we work and live. Content helps us evaluate other
information we are working with. However, in today's world of
the web and smart phones, facts and content are less important.
Students, and the workforce, need to know how to think
critically, find and evaluate information, work in teams,
communicate effectively, solve problems and apply knowledge and
skills to new things and be able to learn on their own. These
are some of the "21st Century Skills" that have been talked
about for years. I agree that these a