Giving Compass' Take:

• A new study from the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) aims to address how holistic curricula helps develop skills for the 21st century. 

• Why is holistic education becoming a global priority in education systems, and how can donors help support this idea? 

• Read about the new research indicating the benefits of mindfulness education. 

Holistic development” is the watchword when setting educational goals for students. However, what this means in practice differs from country to country and culture to culture. The underlying sentiments, though, are similar: We all want to ensure that our young citizens are equipped to think critically and creatively, and to solve problems in an increasing globalized world—a world in which learning is a lifelong endeavor. The challenge before us is with how nations act on these sentiments and design systems to be responsive to societal needs, all while maintaining traditional educational goals.

21CS MAP, a new study from the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), is designed to address this issue. By taking a comparative curriculum-mapping approach, the study will analyze how curricula give students the opportunity to master 21st century skill (21CS) learning goals.

21CS MAP will look at what competencies are valued within mainstream education systems, how they are integrated, and the expectations for how students will learn, think, and perform. The study will first identify common 21CS across participating countries, and then analyze how these skills are represented across selected subjects at Grades 4 and 8 levels in national curricula. Consistent with IEA’s approach, participating countries will contribute to the study’s framework and survey to ensure relevance and accurate representation.

21CS MAP will provide an opportunity for educators worldwide to understand how academic, workforce, and organizational discussions of 21CS frameworks are playing out at the point of delivery in formal primary and secondary education.

Read the full article about 21st-century skills curricula by Dirk Hastedt and Esther Care at Brookings.