Principles for a future-oriented education system

Abstract

A research project commissioned by the Ministry of Education recently presented NZCER researchers with an opportunity to consider how educational research could contribute to the development of a more future-oriented learning system. Our goal was to synthesise ideas from the “21 st century learning” literature with current knowledge about practice issues and future possibilities for innovation in New Zealand education in order to distil a set of themes or principles which a wide audience of educational stakeholders might be able to engage with. While this approach and the themes we have developed are open to critique, we hope this synthesis might provide a platform for educators, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders in education to engage in ongoing discussion about how to develop “next practice” and achieve system change.