There is growing consensus that 21st century skills, or general capabilities as they are known in Australia, need to be cultivated to help learners succeed in a modern society based on knowledge and innovation.
Our skill development frameworks provide detailed descriptions of skills as student behaviours that teachers can identify, monitor and enhance.
ACER’s skill development frameworks are the culmination of five years’ research.
This included the development of an assessment template, and trialling of classroom-based assessments for Grade 6-10 students that collect detailed and reliable information about students’ skills.
Three evident needs underpin ACER's approach to skill development
Understanding development
Descriptions of skills defined by strands and aspects
Monitoring growth
Increasing levels of skill development for each aspect
Ensuring alignment
Aspects embedded in curriculum, assessment and pedagogy
Short course
Assessing skills for 21st century learners
Learn how to develop your own assessments of critical thinking, creative thinking and collaboration through our accredited, four-week online course.
Discover more about our work on 21st century skills
Stay up to date with ACER’s latest news and insights on general capabilities and other educational research.
Identifying and monitoring progress in collaboration skills
Research Conference 2021
Watch ACER Senior Research Fellow Dr Claire Scoular’s presentation to Research Conference 2021
PAT Critical Reasoning
Measure students’ learning growth across a subset of critical thinking skills and target teaching where it’s needed most.