Graph source: Gallup, 21st Century Skills and the Workplace: A 2013 Microsoft Partners in Learning and Pearson Foundation Study
Think back to when you were in high school. How many times did you say to your parents, “Why do I need to learn algebra? When am I ever going to use algebra in real life?”
While the question may seem youthful and naïve, the underlying sentiment is just as true today as it was back then and should not be ignored: Students thirst for an education that empowers them to solve real-world problems.
In fact, a new study sponsored by Microsoft Partners in Learning and the Pearson Foundation provides clear evidence linking 21st-century skills and student engagement in school with higher quality of work later in life. (See the graph above.)
This study, conducted by Gallup among 18- to 35-year-old Americans, validates Microsoft’s education message: 21st-century teaching and learning that provides students with real-world problem solving and the right kind of technology experiences are what students of today need to prepare them for successful future life and work.
To learn more about the study, read today’s post from Microsoft Vice President of Worldwide Education Anthony Salcito over on Microsoft on the Issues.
Jeff Meisner
Microsoft News Center Staff