Øystein JohannessenDeputy Director General, Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research

NML Conference, Brussels, 22 Sep 2009

Government Policies for 21st Century Skills

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Topics

• National Curriculum and ICT in Education• 21st Century Skills – embedded or not?• The Road Ahead

• Documentation– http://www.slideshare.net/oysteinj/

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The National Curriculum (Years 1-13)

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• Decided by the Ministry. Revised 2006. The ”Mission Statement” is more or less unchanged.

• Clear competence goals at different levels years 1-13

• Basic skills: – 5 basic skills (Reading, Writing, Numeracy,

Oral skills, digital skills)

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are to be embedded in all subjects at all levels

– Can be subject to national tests• Methodological freedom of the teacher• From mastering ICT to using it creatively and

critically

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Example: Digital Skills in Arts and Crafts (i)

• Being able to use digital tools in arts and crafts is important when searching for information and producing information as text and images. Production of digital images is important in the pupils' work with photography, scanning, animation, film and video. Also included here are attitudes relating to source criticism, protection of personal privacy and familiarity with copyright rules. Multimedia is included in presentations of one's own work and that of others. Knowledge of aesthetic and digital techniques is decisive for successful communication.

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Example II: Digital Skills in Arts

• 5th grade: plan and build models of houses and rooms using digital tools and simple craft techniques

• 10th grade:– assess different messages, ethical issues

and visual quality of advertising, film, websites and computer games

– document his or her own work in multimedia presentations

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Current ICT activities in Norway

• Establishing a national centre for ICT in education

• Considering national tests in digital skills• Developing quality principles for digital

learning resources• Implementing national solution of identity

management• Integrating ICT in in-service training and intial

teacher training

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21st Century Skills – embedded or not?

• The OECD survey demonstrates lack of common language and understanding.

• Are cross-national differences a barrier?– Culture– Curriculum

• Concept life cycle– Idea– Concept– Life (e.g. in a national curriculum)

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21st Century Skills – embedded or not? Policy triangle

Curriculum

Competences amongTeachers and principals

Assessment

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The Road Ahead

• 21st Century skills: Important concept, wrong name?

• Mindset and concept should be developed further in order to fit into individual country frameworks.

• Assessment is mission-critical• Benchmarks and Indicators• R&D and dissemination• Listening to and learning from Learner Voices

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Collaboration for a better future