Resource information
There is growing consensus that there are essential learning skills that society needs to cultivate to allow learners to succeed in a global economy based on knowledge and innovation.
This sees a broader range of skills beyond literacy and numeracy being increasingly valued and evident in national education policies and curricula. For example, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes Sustainable Development Goal 4 – achieving an ‘inclusive and equitable quality education’ for all – which enhances the focus on development of broader skills.
The growing emphasis on skills indicates a refocus for education systems to ensure they are producing citizens who can effectively and efficiently engage in the workplace and with each other, solving complex global challenges to ensure a sustainable future.
It is important, therefore, that assessment, curriculum, and pedagogy can shift to accommodate new ways of working, new ways of living, and new ways of learning. This document outlines work by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to identify a set of 5 essential skills for learning.
As a result of an ongoing research program ACER has identified the skills of:
- critical thinking
- creative thinking
- collaboration
- communication
- self-regulation.
This overview document describes the building of evidence-based skill frameworks that include levels of skill development.
How to read the report
The report is available on Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)’s website to download as a PDF. There is no login or payment required.
