Beyond Cognition: Defining and Monitoring Social Outcomes of Learning
Koji Miyamoto, Economist and Project Manager, Social Outcomes of Learning, OECD, France
The presentation will focus on skills that are indispensable for a society in which individuals have become increasingly vulnerable –be it due to economic uncertainties, health challenges, violence and/or social unrest. Cognitive and non-cognitive skills empower individuals to flexibly and swiftly cope with these challenges. It will argue that when developed in the disadvantaged groups early in the lifecycle, these skills can also play a critical role in reducing socio-economic inequalities. However, policy-makers, administrators and school inspectors have primarily focused on measuring and promoting cognitive skills. Although the importance of non-cognitive skills such as self-efficacy, perseverance and patience have long been well known to teachers and parents, such skills have rarely been among the main focus of policy discussions nor included in school evaluations and high-stakes tests. Emerging evidence suggests that non-cognitive skills are critical not only in their own rights, but also to further raise the productivity of developing cognitive skills. Moreover, we are beginning to understand how these non-cognitive skills can be better nurtured. Policy-makers, teachers and families would benefit from reflecting on strategies to promote these skills.