State Board of Education Vision
At its September 2009 meeting, the State Board of Education formally adopted the vision document entitled “Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century: A Vision for Transforming PK-12 Education in Ohio.”
The main theme of the vision is for all students to graduate from the PK-12 education system with the knowledge, skills and behaviors necessary to be well prepared for success. The State Board has identified four objectives to reach this vision:
- Teaching 21st century knowledge and skills for real-world success;
- Effectively delivering support for a high quality education; and
- Providing sufficient resources which are efficiently managed; and
- Developing a statewide outreach and communication strategy on board policy and the importance of education in the 21st century.
The following is a Top 10 list of findings from the State Board of Education’s EDGE subcommittee research on the most important skills, knowledge and behaviors students will need to provide Ohio with competitive advantages in the new global economy:
- Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and applied knowledge for practical results
- Mastery of rigorous academic content, especially in literacy, mathematics, and information technologies
- Innovative and creative thinking, including entrepreneurial skills
- Communication skills, both oral and written
- Team learning and work, relationship building, and interpersonal social skills
- Alignment of education with the needs of economic development, including better communications and cooperation between educators and business people*
- Personal responsibility, including good work habits, work ethic, knowing how to be flexible and continue learning, and financial literacy
- Global awareness, languages, and understanding other cultures (including history, economics and geography)
- Communications and better interfaces between K-12 public education and post-secondary/higher education to make high school graduates better prepared for the next stages of their education and lives*
- Teacher education, preparation, and professional development to support content mastery and skill development, including applied learning (or problem-based learning) across disciplines in a global context*
*While these items are not necessarily knowledge, skills or behaviors, they were among the top 10 responses and address changes needed in Ohio’s education system.
- Full text of State Board Vision Document
- State Board Resolution to Adopt the Vision Document (passed Sept. 15, 2009)
In an online class that I’m facilitating, there is a discussion about “21st Century Skills”. Some of the comments have revolved around “good teaching vs. 21st Century Skills”. Aside from the advances in our ever-expanding use of technology in education, I tend to agree with several of my participants that 1) many of the skills described should already be part of good teaching, 2) skills are not limited to the “21st” century.
Now that Ohio has provided a plan for skills, how will it be implemented? How will our students respond, considering many of them are willing to submit mediocre work?
We can only hope that Ohio’s vision of these Skills will add to our overall reform efforts.
Ron Fabich
Pres – Ohio Earth Science Teachers Association
Reg. Dir. & States Coord. – National Earth Science Teachers Association
Member – Ohio’s Science Standards and OGT Committees
A lot of the suggestions are really good and the skills can be used in a generic manner. However, if we are focusing on the 21st century, how will the knowledge and skills mentioned above be specifically translated into practical applications to deal with the impact of global climate change?