The challenges for the 21st century student are not all that different. What’s been noticed is the need for future students to be able to embrace professional ethics and social responsibly, be creative and innovative and write and communicate well. Students need to learn more about how to contribute to society.
Today students need to acquire sound basics in science, math, and analytical capabilities (Vest, 2007). This is not new. Traditionally, schools have passed down this knowledge in their lecture classes. While the lecture format has worked for many years, today’s classrooms need a more holistic approach – team projects, open-ended problem solving, experiential learning, engagement in research, these are the integral elements of an education.
MIT and other schools have added these attributes to their programs. They recognized the value of incorporating design, teamwork, and communications to their curricula.