Finding a way to effectively assess and teach 21st century skills can be a powerful foundation for reform in assessment, curricula and classroom learning.

Innovations

Although there have been many efforts to test students’ progress in schools and define new skills and curriculum, such efforts to date have been limited to local, regional and national initiatives. ATC21S represents an international effort to broker common standards, assessments and terminologies in 21st century skills around the world.

What ATC21S Will Deliver

Formative and Summative Assessments

ATC21S is developing an assessment framework to map how students learn two specific skills: collaborative problem solving and ICT literacy — learning in digital networks. The results will provide policy makers and teachers with innovative resources for driving problem solving and digital capabilities.

The ATC21S assessments will allow education jurisdictions to evaluate student achievement, identify gaps in development or competence, and see where they may need to invest in curriculum change.

A Structure for Timely Data Gathering

The ATC21S assessment structure will allow for fast feedback. The data will shorten timeframes for policy and curriculum decisions and allow for monitoring of system-level achievements in 21st century skills. The project is also working to identify the kinds of data that educational jurisdictions need to inform their strategic decisions.

Research Findings

The research underpinning the project is being published in educational white papers, journals and books to ensure that the approach and the materials stand up to international academic scrutiny. Country toolkits providing an overview of the research deliverables will be made available.  These will help governments to scale and apply the ATC21S research locally.

Resources for Policy-Makers and Educators

At the conclusion of the ATC21S project a resource kit will be placed in the public domain to help others replicate our work. This resource kit will include:

  • Conceptual white papers – Five white papers covering 21st century skills, methodical issues, technological challenges, classroom and formative evaluation, and policy frameworks.  These white papers are now available on our white paper page.
  • Exemplar tasks — Prototypes to explain and clarify the assessment tools.
  • Theoretical frameworks — Definitions and explanations of the theories behind the assessments.
  • Learning progressions — Explanations of skill level advancement, plus strategies for helping students progress.
  • Formative assessment advice – Intervention and lesson plan recommendations based on teacher input.
  • Summative assessment data — Aggregated data to inform decision-making and policy.
  • Case studies — Examples from countries implementing the assessment and teaching materials.
  • Technical requirements — Suggestions on bandwidth, software, hardware, and administrative procedures.
  • Platform of delivery – Information on how delivery systems might be constructed and used.
  • Policy framework — Recommendations for effective policy changes to support 21st century skills initiatives.
  • ATC21S White Papers »

    ATC21S’ foundational research, written by more than 60 of the world’s top education researchers.
  • 21st-Century Skills »

    Learn about the critical skills students need to be successful in the digital age and beyond.
  • Watch Our New Video »

    Streaming video content featuring leading academics from around the globe.
  • Frequently Asked Questions

    Find answers to frequently asked questions about ATC21S.

    Read Our FAQs »
  • Acknowledgments

    We acknowledge that many people have contributed to our joint success.

    Acknowledgments List »
  • Progress

    Read our Project Update Reports to learn more about the progress being made.

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