21st Century Skills

One of the most talked about—but least understood—societal challenges is the teaching and learning of 21st century skills. Researchers in SRI's Center for Technology in Learning have helped clients such as the U.S. Department of Education and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation define 21st century skills education more precisely. We develop programs for girls and other specific populations, create innovative assessments, and shape insightful evaluation designs.

The Center facilitates the translation of these important but often nebulous ideas into actionable ways for teachers to improve the 21st century teaching and learning opportunities their assignments offer students.

Projects

students at computers in a classroom
Evaluation of CISE Pathways to Revitalized Undergraduate Computer Education

The National Science Foundation asked SRI to evaluate its program to transform undergraduate computing education on a national scale.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Community College: Transitions Higher Education + Workforce Development Learning Technologies School Improvement: Curriculum + Instruction Science, Technology, Engineering + Mathematics Education
Teacher watches her students writing
National Evaluation of Writing Project School Partnerships

The study design included a multimethod approach to documenting how the partnerships were developed and implemented in participating schools and sites.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Educational Impact Evaluation Randomized Controlled Trials + Quasi-Experimental Designs Reading, Writing + Humanities Teacher Quality + Learning

Press Releases

Teacher with young students
Department of Education Funds SRI’s Evaluation of Early Childhood Intervention Program in the Midwest

SRI researchers are beginning an evaluation of the Midwest Expansion of the Child-Parent Center (CPC) program, an intervention that provides comprehensive educational and family-support services to at-risk pre-kindergarten through third-grade children.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Assessment Design + Evaluation Early Childhood School + Community Partnerships School Improvement School Improvement: Student Success
Seventh-graders at laptop
Department of Education Funds Four-Year Research Evaluation of Mathematics Online Tutoring System

Research team to study seventh-grade mathematics students and teachers in more than 50 schools throughout Maine.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Out-of-School Learning Research on Learning School Improvement: Curriculum + Instruction School Improvement: Student Success Science, Technology, Engineering + Mathematics Education
Governor Kaine Announces Major Research Institute for Virginia

SRI International will transform state's research and development efforts

Topics: 21st Century Skills Disease Focus Areas Pharmaceutical R+D
men in hard hats
Meet NTER, a 21st Century Model for Virtual Education and Job Training

SRI International will demonstrate the National Training and Education Resource (NTER), a web-based online learning platform for virtual job training, workforce development, and certification. NTER was envisioned by the Department of Energy and developed by SRI.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Community College: Transitions
AP science class
National Science Foundation-funded Study to Examine if New AP Science Courses Advance Student Progress onto Science and Engineering Career Track

New research study will provide the first experimental evidence on the effects of high school students taking an inquiry-based AP science course and whether it impacts educational progress and success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Educational Impact Evaluation School Improvement: Curriculum + Instruction School Improvement: Student Success Science, Technology, Engineering + Mathematics Education
writing on a math board
New Study Released on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Participation among College Students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

A new SRI-led study finds that people with autism spectrum disorders are significantly more likely to choose science majors, if they attend college.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Behavioral Health Research on Learning Special Education/Disability
middle school children in a classroom with teacher looking on
No Clear Path to Mathematics Learning in California

New research makes clear that students doing well in seventh grade math are more likely to succeed in advanced math classes when they reach high school.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Large-Scale Surveys Research on Learning School Improvement: Student Success Science, Technology, Engineering + Mathematics Education
SRI Releases Report for U.S. Department of Education on Costs and Benefits of Online Learning Programs

An SRI report, Understanding the Implications of Online Learning for Educational Productivity, summarizes research about online learning programs in higher education and offers strategies for implementing such programs effectively in K-12 settings.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Case Studies in Education Higher Education + Workforce Development Learning Technologies
SRI Report: Missed Opportunities for Innovative Teaching around the World

A new multinational study led by SRI International finds that innovative teaching practices supported by technology can indeed promote 21st century skills such as collaboration and problem solving. Unfortunately, in classrooms around the world, these important learning opportunities are rare.

Topics: 21st Century Skills International Education Reform

Publications

National Evaluation of Writing Project School Partnerships - Final Report (Executive Summary)

Final report on SRI's examination of the effects of partnerships on teacher practices and student writing. The cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) included a multimethod study to document how partnerships were developed and implemented in participating schools and sites.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Educational Impact Evaluation Randomized Controlled Trials + Quasi-Experimental Designs Reading, Writing + Humanities Teacher Quality + Learning
National Evaluation of Writing Project School Partnerships - Final Report (with Appendices)

Final report on SRI's examination of the effects of partnerships on teacher practices and student writing. The cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) included a multimethod study to document how partnerships were developed and implemented in participating schools and sites.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Educational Impact Evaluation Randomized Controlled Trials + Quasi-Experimental Designs Reading, Writing + Humanities Teacher Quality + Learning
National Evaluation of Writing Project School Partnerships - Final Report (without Appendices)

Final report on SRI's examination of the effects of partnerships on teacher practices and student writing. The cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) included a multimethod study to document how partnerships were developed and implemented in participating schools and sites.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Educational Impact Evaluation Randomized Controlled Trials + Quasi-Experimental Designs Reading, Writing + Humanities Teacher Quality + Learning
Understanding the Implications of Online Learning for Educational Productivity

To improve educational productivity, In the U.S., online learning alternatives are proliferating rapidly. This report supports educational administrators and policymakers in becoming informed consumers of information about online learning and its potential impact on educational productivity.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Higher Education + Workforce Development Learning Technologies Out-of-School Learning School Improvement Training Systems
National Evaluation of Writing Project Professional Development: Year 4 Report

Final report on SRI's examination of changes in students’ writing proficiency, students’ writing practices, teachers’ instructional practices, and teachers’ professional communities in middle schools that have formed partnerships with Local Writing Project sites.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Educational Impact Evaluation Randomized Controlled Trials + Quasi-Experimental Designs Reading, Writing + Humanities Teacher Quality + Learning
National Evaluation of Writing Project Professional Development: Year 3 Report

Year 2 report on SRI's examination of changes in students’ writing proficiency, students’ writing practices, teachers’ instructional practices, and teachers’ professional communities in middle schools that have formed partnerships with Local Writing Project sites.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Educational Impact Evaluation Randomized Controlled Trials + Quasi-Experimental Designs Reading, Writing + Humanities Teacher Quality + Learning
21st Century Skills in STEM Workforce Training Assessments

What skills do tech employers seek? A new vision for teaching STEM tech education is posited.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Assessment Design + Evaluation Community College: Transitions Community College: Reform to Support Real-World Learning Science, Technology, Engineering + Mathematics Education Technology Opportunities
National Evaluation of Writing Project Professional Development: Year 2 Report

Year 2 report on SRI's examination of changes in students’ writing proficiency, students’ writing practices, teachers’ instructional practices, and teachers’ professional communities in middle schools that have formed partnerships with Local Writing Project sites.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Educational Impact Evaluation Randomized Controlled Trials + Quasi-Experimental Designs Reading, Writing + Humanities Teacher Quality + Learning
National Evaluation of Writing Project Professional Development: Year 1 Report

Year 1 report on SRI's examination of changes in students’ writing proficiency, students’ writing practices, teachers’ instructional practices, and teachers’ professional communities in middle schools that have formed partnerships with Local Writing Project sites.

Topics: 21st Century Skills Educational Impact Evaluation Randomized Controlled Trials + Quasi-Experimental Designs Reading, Writing + Humanities Teacher Quality + Learning

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