Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills from Coursera

This MOOC is designed principally for practicing teachers who are wondering exactly how they can incorporate teaching and assessment of 21st century skills into their classrooms, labs or workshops. It will also be useful to trainee teachers, school leaders, teacher educators and curriculum and assessment specialists, providing them with an understanding of the challenges associated with teaching and assessment of 21st century skills. This course explains the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills. It reviews how they can be represented in the curriculum, in terms of developmental progressions. It also explores how teachers can recognise these skills in students, how the level of skill of a learner can be assessed, and then how learners can be supported to develop their skill. In this course we work through two detailed examples of 21st century skills. The first is collaborative problem solving, a 21st century skill which combines the capacities of collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking and communication. The second skill is a meta-cognitive skill of knowing how to learn in a MOOC. In each example, you will explore how to understand the nature of each skill from a teaching perspective, how to teach it, and how to assess it. These two examples show how any 21st century skill can be tackled in the classroom. The approach to teaching and assessment in this course derives from the application of a developmental, evidence-based, clinical approach to teaching practice. The course provides a mix of theory and practice, of thinking and doing, and opportunities to share ideas, experience and resources with other participants. Join Emeritus Professor Patrick Griffin and the team from the Assessment Research Centre, University of Melbourne in a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills, hosted on Coursera. Please note that this course will be closing for new learner enrollment on October 23, 2020. Since you have already enrolled, you will continue to see it on your Coursera Dashboard as long as you remain enrolled in the course.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Relevant in a classroom setting, this course demonstrates how to teach and assess 21st century skills

Uses collaborative problem solving and knowing how to learn in a MOOC to demonstrate how any 21st century skill can be tackled in the classroom

Provides a mix of theory and practice, of thinking and doing, and opportunities to share ideas

Relevant for practicing teachers who want to incorporate 21st century skills in the classroom

Useful for trainee teachers, school leaders, teacher educators, and curriculum and assessment specialists to understand the challenges of teaching and assessing these skills

Led by Emeritus Professor Patrick Griffin and the team from the Assessment Research Centre, University of Melbourne

Reviews summary

Versatile assessment for 21st century teachers

This course is highly recommended for teachers, educators, and anyone working with children and youth. It provides a balance of theory and practical application, helping learners understand and implement the teaching and assessment of 21st century skills in their classrooms. The assignments are well-structured and relevant, ensuring that learners can apply the concepts they learn.

Well-structured assignments that reinforce course concepts.

"Assignments were very relevant and well structured to incorporate ideas covered in the course."

Focus on evidence-based teaching practices.

"The approach to teaching and assessment in this course derives from the application of a developmental, evidence-based, clinical approach to teaching practice."

In-depth exploration of collaborative problem solving as a 21st century skill.

"In this course we work through two detailed examples of 21st century skills."

"The first is collaborative problem solving, a 21st century skill which combines the capacities of collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking and communication."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills with these activities:

Review your knowledge of developmental psychology.

Show steps

This activity will help you refresh your knowledge of the cognitive and social development of learners, which is essential for understanding how to teach and assess 21st-century skills.

Browse courses on Developmental Psychology

Show steps

Review your lecture notes or textbook readings on developmental psychology.
Take a practice quiz or test to assess your knowledge.

Review teaching practices

Show steps

Reflect on and review your current teaching practices to build a solid foundation for developing your 21st-century skills.

Show steps

Identify areas for improvement
Research best practices
Attend a workshop or conference

Read and Review 'Teaching and Assessment in the Digital Age' by Patrick Griffin

Show steps

This book provides a theoretical background for the course and helps you understand the importance of teaching and assessing 21st-century skills.

View Assessment for Teaching on Amazon

Show steps

Read the introduction and first chapter of the book.
Take notes on the key concepts discussed in the book.
Apply the concepts to your own teaching practice.

Ten other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all 13 activities

Find a mentor who can provide guidance on teaching and assessing 21st-century skills.

Show steps

A mentor can provide you with personalized support and guidance as you learn to teach and assess 21st-century skills.

Browse courses on Mentorship

Show steps

Identify potential mentors who have experience in teaching and assessing 21st-century skills.
Reach out to potential mentors and ask them if they are willing to mentor you.
Meet with your mentor regularly to discuss your progress and get feedback.
Optional: Ask your mentor to observe you teaching and provide feedback.

Practice assessing 21st-century skills.

Show steps

This activity will give you an opportunity to practice assessing 21st-century skills so that you can become more confident in your ability to do so.

Browse courses on Assessment

Show steps

Review the assessment rubrics for 21st-century skills.
Assess a sample of student work using the rubrics.
Discuss your assessment with other teachers or students.

Collaborate with colleagues

Show steps

Engage in discussions and share experiences with colleagues to gain diverse perspectives and enhance your understanding of 21st-century skills.

Browse courses on Collaboration

Show steps

Find a group of colleagues
Schedule regular meetings
Discuss teaching practices and assessment techniques

Join a study group or online discussion forum on 21st-century skills.

Show steps

This activity will provide you with an opportunity to connect with other educators who are interested in teaching and assessing 21st-century skills.

Browse courses on 21st Century Skills

Show steps

Find a study group or online discussion forum that focuses on 21st-century skills.
Join the group and participate in the discussions.
Share your own experiences and insights with other members of the group.

Explore assessment techniques

Show steps

Delve into different assessment techniques to enhance your ability to effectively evaluate student learning in the context of 21st-century skills.

Browse courses on Assessment Techniques

Show steps

Identify different assessment methods
Learn how to use assessment tools
Practice using assessment techniques

Develop a lesson plan that incorporates 21st-century skills.

Show steps

This activity will give you an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills you are learning in this course to your own teaching practice.

Browse courses on Lesson Planning

Show steps

Identify the 21st-century skills you want to teach.
Develop a lesson plan that incorporates these skills.
Implement your lesson plan in your classroom.
Reflect on your experience and make adjustments as needed.

Design a lesson plan

Show steps

Develop a lesson plan that incorporates 21st-century skills to provide a practical application of your learning and enhance student engagement.

Browse courses on Lesson Planning

Show steps

Identify learning objectives
Choose appropriate teaching methods
Plan assessments

Create a blog post or article on 21st-century skills.

Show steps

This activity will help you deepen your understanding of 21st-century skills and how to teach them by sharing your knowledge with others.

Browse courses on 21st Century Skills

Show steps

Choose a topic related to 21st-century skills.
Research your topic and gather evidence to support your claims.
Write and edit your blog post or article.
Publish your blog post or article online.

Attend a workshop on 21st-century skills

Show steps

Participate in a workshop specifically focused on 21st-century skills to gain insights from experts and network with other professionals.

Show steps

Find a relevant workshop
Register and attend the workshop
Engage with speakers and participants

Contribute to an open-source project related to 21st-century skills.

Show steps

By contributing to an open-source project, you can have a direct impact on making 21st-century skills education more accessible to all.

Browse courses on 21st Century Skills

Show steps

Find an open-source project that aligns with your interests and skills.
Contribute to the project by submitting a bug report, fixing a bug, or adding a new feature.
Collaborate with other developers on the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Assessment and Teaching of 21st Century Skills will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers are responsible for designing and developing educational materials and programs. This course can help Instructional Designers by providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to design and assess 21st century skills in their students. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Curriculum Developer

Curriculum Developers are responsible for developing and implementing educational programs. This course can help Curriculum Developers by providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to develop and assess 21st century skills in their students. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Developer

Teacher

Teachers are responsible for teaching students a variety of subjects, including reading, writing, math, and science. This course can help Teachers by providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to teach and assess 21st century skills in their students. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Educational Consultant

Educational Consultants provide advice and guidance to schools and other educational institutions on a variety of topics, including curriculum development, assessment, and teaching methods. This course can help Educational Consultants by providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to advise schools on how to teach and assess 21st century skills. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Educational Consultant

School Administrator

School Administrators are responsible for overseeing the operation of schools. This course can help School Administrators by providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to support teachers in teaching and assessing 21st century skills. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for School Administrator

Program Manager

Program Managers are responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating programs. This course may be useful for Program Managers who are interested in developing and managing programs that teach and assess 21st century skills. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Program Manager

Project Manager

Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course may be useful for Project Managers who are interested in managing projects that teach and assess 21st century skills. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research and analyze public policies in order to make recommendations for changes. This course may be useful for Policy Analysts who are interested in developing policies that support the teaching and assessment of 21st century skills. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Curriculum Specialist

Curriculum Specialists develop and implement curriculum for schools. This course may be useful for Curriculum Specialists who are interested in developing and implementing curriculum that teaches and assesses 21st century skills. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Curriculum Specialist

Organizational Development Manager

Organizational Development Managers are responsible for developing and implementing programs that improve the effectiveness of an organization. This course may be useful for Organizational Development Managers who are interested in developing and implementing programs that teach and assess 21st century skills to employees. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Organizational Development Manager

Training and Development Manager

Training and Development Managers are responsible for developing and delivering training programs for employees. This course may be useful for Training and Development Managers who are interested in developing and delivering training programs that teach and assess 21st century skills. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Training and Development Manager

Higher Education Administrator

Higher Education Administrators oversee the operation of colleges and universities. This course may be useful for Higher Education Administrators who are interested in developing and implementing policies and programs that support the teaching and assessment of 21st century skills. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Higher Education Administrator

Instructional Coach

Instructional Coaches work with teachers to improve their teaching practices. This course may be useful for Instructional Coaches who are interested in helping teachers to teach and assess 21st century skills. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Coach

Education Researcher

Education Researchers conduct research on education and learning. This course may be useful for Education Researchers who are interested in conducting research on the teaching and assessment of 21st century skills. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Education Researcher

Human Resources Manager

Human Resources Managers are responsible for managing the human resources of an organization. This course may be useful for Human Resources Managers who are interested in developing and implementing programs that teach and assess 21st century skills to employees. The course covers a variety of topics, including the social and cognitive skills that are known as 21st century skills, how they can be represented in the curriculum, and how teachers can recognise these skills in students and assess their level of skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Manager