Education, PISA & the state of play

Change is one of of the constants of the 21st century and a commitment to be observant of changes occurring in our daily lives and applying them to the classroom is a must for every educator.

In this video Use data to build better schools, Andreas Schliecher, OECD Education Directorate provides an explanation of the role of the PISA 2012 results which reported the educational competencies in reading, mathematics and science of 510,000, 15 year old students across 65 countries.  It proves clarification of many of the arguments surrounding the PISA testing and cuts through the rherotic to place a clear emphasis on why our education system has to change.

Change is not an option.

Dirk Van Damme in his post The global talent pool has taken on a dramatically different look states that by 2030, China will be home to 27% of the global pool of highly educated people, and India to another 23%. The United States would follow with only 8%. And of the emerging economies, Brazil and Indonesia would follow with 5% each. Together China and India would be home to half of the world’s highly educated youth.  Access to education worldwide is increasing and the traditional balances of an educated population are shifting. 

Andreas Schliecher's presentation The high cost of low educational performance is was recorded in 2010.  It provides an overview of the reasons for educational change and the trends that were apparent at that time.  In his article the The case for 21st century learning he stresses the need for educational innovation, saying

Education today is much more about ways of thinking which involve creative and critical approaches to problem-solving and decision-making. It is also about ways of working, including communication and collaboration, as well as the tools they require, such as the capacity to recognise and exploit the potential of new technologies, or indeed, to avert their risks. And last but not least, education is about the capacity to live in a multi-faceted world as an active and engaged citizen. These citizens influence what they want to learn and how they want to learn it, and it is this that shapes the role of educators.

He closes by saying "Success will go to those individuals and countries that are swift to adapt, slow to resist and open to change".  We really must look at education broadly with a worldwide perspective to see the real state of play in the world.   

7 Survival Skills for students today

In September 2013 representatives of business, education and community organisations met to discuss issues relating to the future at the (co)lab summit in Atlanta, Georgia.  Videos of presentations Including one from Will Richardson, are available on the (co)lab summit Youtube channel.

Education leader, Tony Wagner, delivered this address Reinventing education for the 21st century where he outlines the 7 survival skills that matter most for students in the new economy in which we live. 

1. Critical thinking and problem solving (ability to ask the right questions)
2. Collaboration across networks and leading by influence
3. Agility and adaptability to cope with the pace of change
4. Initiative and entrepreneurship (ability to set one's own goals)
5. Effective oral and written communication
6. Ability to access and analyse information
7. Curiosity and imagination. 

ACER & DERN - Australian education research

Australian Council for Education Research, (ACER) provides a valuable service to educators through regular distribution of (mainly) Australian education research and discussion.  

Digital Education Resource Network (DERN), managed by ACER is a 'network for, leaders, researchers and educators interested in the use of digital technologies for learning'.  It distributes a regular discussion paper with an invitation to join a group discussion.  Joining the DERNList is all you need to do to receive alerts.  Cost free.  Paid subscription with futher access is also available.

Also, subscribe to [rd] Research Developments, the news hub of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) covering the full range of education - Early Childhood, School, Higher Education, Vocational & Adult, International, Indigenous.  

An easy way to keep up with an Australian education focus.  Thanks ACER.

PISA 2012 results - Maths, Reading & Science

The PISA 2012 report of international student performance in Mathematics, Reading and Science as published by the OECD, 3 December 2013 provides an opportunity to compare literacy, numeracy and scientific literacy across countries.  Published every 3 years, it provides a benchmark for educators worldwide. 

ACER provides an Australian perspective on the report

OECD News release:  Asian countries top OECD’s latest PISA survey on state of global education

'The OECD’s PISA results reveal what is possible in education by showing what students in the highest-performing and most rapidly improving education systems can do. The findings allow policy makers around the world to gauge the knowledge and skills of students in their own countries in comparison with those in other countries, set policy targets against measurable goals achieved by other education systems, and learn from policies and practices applied elsewhere.' (OECD)