SEVEN SKILLS STUDENTS NEED FOR THEIR FUTURE

From the Cover of Dr. Wagner's The Global Achievement Gap

 There are two major trends in the world that pose a fundamental challenge -- and many opportunities to our educational system. One is the world is shifting from an industrial economy to knowledge economy. The other is the rising generation-Brought up on the Internet-is very differently motivated to learn.

These two forces, argues Dr. Tony Wagner, co-director of Harvard's Change Leadership Group, compel us to re conceptualize education in this country. In  this thoughtful analysis of future industry needs and education readiness studies, Dr. Wagner has identified what he calls a "global achievement gap," which is the leap between what even our best schools are teaching, and the must skills of the future:

• Critical thinking and problem solving

• Collaboration across networks and leading by influence

• Agility and adaptability 

• Initiative and entrepreneurial ism

• Effective oral and written communication

• Accessing and analyzing information 

• Curiosity and imagination