Working Together to Transform Teaching, Learning, and Assessment

Since 1906, the Carnegie Unit or “credit hour” has served as the bedrock currency of the educational economy. It defines what counts as learning, shapes the nature of what is and is not assessed, and determines the basic organization of secondary and post-secondary education. Where seat time has served as the primary function of learning outcomes, it is increasingly clear that the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to succeed in the 21st century economy are not singularly demonstrated through time on task—whether sitting at a desk or on a digital platform. It is time to fundamentally rethink how learning progressions and mastery are demonstrated, the methods of measurement used, and how attainment of skills is communicated throughout a learner’s journey.