On February 5, Jobs for the Future, a national nonprofit that advocates for all youth to gain the skills they need to succeed in the economy, released a paper entitled Civic Education and Deeper Learning by CIRCLE Director Peter Levine and Deputy Director Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg. This paper was funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation as part of its deeper learning initiative. It was discussed at a Harvard Graduate School of Education event: “More than College Readiness: Engaging Students in Work and Civic Life.”
The Hewlett deeper learning initiative envisions K-12 students “using their knowledge and skills in a way that prepares them for real life.” When deeper learning occurs, students “are mastering core academic content, like reading, writing, math, and science, while learning how to think critically, collaborate, communicate effectively, direct their own learning, and believe in themselves (known as an ‘academic mindset’).” Deeper learning should occur in all disciplines and should encourage interdisciplinary learning.
