By Matt Delaney, Director of Academic Design & Integration
When thinking and talking about what education means in the 21st century, students and parents often ask the questions: How do the content and skills engaged in particular classes prepare me for the world I am walking into? When and how will I use the skills and knowledge I gain in a particular course? These questions seem even more urgent in a world of accelerating technological, economic, and societal change.
Underlying the school’s vision statement, to inspire students to create a better world, is a sentiment that for students to create a better world they need to both understand and know how to navigate the modern world. These ideas are also captured in the school’s 2023-2024 Strategic Priorities adopted by the Board on June 5, 2023.
EPS Strategic Priorities: Program
Program 2.2 Expand independent education capacity and options for juniors and seniors to modernize the senior year experience.
Program 2.5 Ensure the EPS curriculum remains modern and relevant in order to equip students to navigate the future with confidence.
Program 2.6 Develop EPS literacies (e.g., collaboration, digital citizenship, stewardship) as a modern skills framework.
Pursuing Relevance
At EPS one of the primary answers to the questions above is a single word: relevance.
Pursuing relevance in our core curricular offerings means engaging modern advancements in our current academic disciplines, along with providing freedom to faculty and students to explore uniquely modern topics and applications in the independent curriculum in the space of US Seminars, Independent Studies, Independent Projects, the Senior Thesis, and a coming pilot of a collaborative approach to projects called the Impact Project.
Our third path to relevance is the pursuit, consideration, and weaving of different modern world literacies into the school program (the curriculum, the advisory program, student events and programming). These literacies or competencies provide vehicles through which students can first understand how the modern world works, and then investigate what it means to navigate that world.
The Landscape of 21st Century Literacies
In the context of education, a literacy extends beyond basic reading and writing skills. It encompasses a set of competencies that allow individuals to effectively interpret, create, and communicate information in various formats and contexts.
The current American educational landscape is shaped by the need to integrate 21st century skills into curricula that have their roots in the 20th century. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) identifies key competencies that are crucial for students today, including critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication. These skills are supplemented by information literacy, media literacy, and ICT (Information, Communications, and Technology) literacy. Schools across the United States are adopting these frameworks to ensure that students are not only knowledgeable but also adept at applying their knowledge in practical, realworld situations.
EPS’s Mission and Vision
Modern World Literacies and Competencies at EPS
EPS is committed to fostering an educational environment where students can Think Critically, Act Responsibly, Lead Compassionately, and Innovate Wisely. Our vision to Inspire Students to Create A Better World is realized through a curriculum that integrates modern world literacies. This integration is designed to help students develop a comprehensive skill set that aligns with our mission and prepares them for future challenges.
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Civic Engagement (Including Empathetic Dialogue)
Guiding Question: How might students become informed and active citizens by understanding historical contexts and engaging in civic life?
Civic engagement coursework is designed to help students understand historical contexts, analyze current events, and participate meaningfully in civic life.Where Can It Be Found at EPS? Historical Thinking 2 (7) | Leadership Lab (MS) | US History: The American Question (11) | Civics (12)
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Ecological and Environmental Literacy
Guiding Question: How might students understand ecological principles and practice realistic and achievable sustainable practices?
Exploration of environmental awareness and sustainability educates students about ecological principles and the impact of human activities on the environment. This knowledge empowers students to make informed decisions and take actions that support environmental sustainability now and in the future.
Where Can It Be Found at EPS? Environmental Practices (7-8) | Environmental Science (11-12) | Literature and the Natural Environment (12) | Economics & the Environment (10-12) | Undercover Economics (9-12) | Topics in Urban Planning & Community Design (9-12) | Experiencing Nature Through Literature (10-12)
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Equity, Inclusion, and Compassionate Leadership Literacy (EICL)
Guiding Question: How might students explore identity and lead with compassion and integrity to address societal inequalities?
Equity, Inclusion, and Compassionate Leadership (EICL) are embedded in our advisory program, student affinity groups, and various student/family events. This literacy fosters an inclusive school culture where every student feels valued and that they belong and are empowered to lead with compassion and integrity. EICL education equips students with an understanding of how addressing societal inequalities can contribute to a more just world.
Where Can It Be Found at EPS? Advisory (5-12) | Student Affinity Groups | Student/Family Events | Sociolinguistics: Language, Identity, and Society (10-12) | Introduction to Queer Theatre (10-12) | Queer Resistance (10-12) | Gender Studies (10-12) | All Courses-Classrooms-Campus
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Financial and Economic Literacy
Guiding Question: How might students understand the complexities of microeconomics and its relationship to entrepreneurship, personal finance, and macroeconomics in the context of a global economy?
Understanding the complexities of microeconomics, personal finance, entrepreneurship and the global economy is vital for EPS students. Coursework in this area covers essential topics such as market dynamics, financial planning, and the economic factors that influence societal development.
Where can it be found at EPS? Undercover Economics (9-12) | Economics of Development (12) | Various Math Courses | Innovation & Entrepreneurship (10-12)
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Inquiry and problem solving
Guiding Question: How might students develop critical thinking, creativity, and innovative practices through inquiry-based learning?
Inquiry-based learning is embedded throughout the EPS curriculum. Students are encouraged to ask questions, identify problems, and develop solutions, equipping them with the skills to tackle complex challenges.
Where Can It Be Found at EPS? Real-World Engineering: The EV Project (10-12) | Frontiers in Engineering: What Do Different Engineers Do? (10-12) | All Courses-Classrooms-Campus
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Interdisciplinary thinking literacy
Guiding Question: How might students make connections across different academic disciplines to enhance their understanding and problem-solving abilities?
Interdisciplinary coursework and thinking encourages students to make connections across different academic disciplines, enhancing their ability to see the bigger picture and apply their knowledge in diverse contexts.
Where Can It Be Found at EPS? Humanities (9-10) | Undercover Economics (9-12) | Evolution of Society: Economy & Technology (10-12) | Topics in Urban Planning & Community Design (9-12) | All Courses-Classrooms
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Metacognition and executive functioning literacy
Guiding Question: How might students become aware of and develop strategies to manage their learning processes and emotions to improve their academic and personal experiences?
Metacognition and executive functioning are critical skills that help students manage their learning processes. Through our advisory program and learning support services, students learn to set goals, plan effectively, monitor their progress, and adapt their strategies as needed. These skills are essential for academic success and lifelong learning.
Where Can It Be Found at EPS? Advisory (5-12) | Learning Support (5-12) | Guided Study Hall (5-12) | Bias: How Humans Fool Themselves | All Courses-Classrooms
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Social-emotional learning (SEL)
Guiding Question: How might students better understand their emotions, how their brains work, and the power of language to create better relationships with themselves and others?
At EPS, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is a cornerstone of our advisory program. SEL helps students develop self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. These competencies are crucial for personal and professional success, enabling students to navigate social complexities and build meaningful relationships.
Where Can It Be Found at EPS? Advisory (5-12) | All Classrooms-Courses-Campus
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Technological and information literacy
Guiding Question: How might students understand and leverage technology, including the structure and applications of AI, to solve real-world problems?
In today’s digital age, technological literacy is imperative. EPS offers a range of technology courses and programs that teach students how to navigate and utilize technology effectively, fostering skills in coding, robotics, and digital literacy.
Where Can It Be Found at EPS? Advisory | Make | Web | Bots | US Technology & Computer Science Courses | Media Literacy: The Medium is the Message (10-12)
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Public speaking and presentation literacy
Guiding Question: How might students develop the confidence and skills to communicate effectively in various settings?
Public speaking is an essential skill for effective communication. At EPS, public speaking is integrated into the full curriculum, providing students with numerous opportunities to practice and refine their presentation skills. This prepares them to communicate confidently and persuasively in various settings.
Where Can It Be Found at EPS? Public Speaking | All Courses-Classrooms
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Well-being literacy
Guiding Question: How might students integrate their understandings of emotional, physical, and social well-being to live a good life?
Student well-being is core to the EPS experience. For students to learn and live effectively and deeply, they need a complex understanding of what it means to be aware of their and others’ well-being.
Where Can It Be Found at EPS? Advisory (5-12) | PE Wellness (9) | EBC Week | Adventure in the Marvelous Outdoors (10-12) | Deliberate Design: College, Career, Life (10-12) | Neuroscience: Emotions, Relationships, and Learning (10-12) | Perfectionism: Identification, Manifestation, & Connection (10-12) | Harm Reduction (10-12)
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Emphasizing EPS’s unique approach to modern world competency
EPS’s commitment to integrating these modern world literacies into our educational framework is one of the approaches that sets us apart from other schools. By focusing on relevance and real-world application, we ensure that our students are not only academically proficient but also prepared to navigate and contribute to the world beyond school.
The above list is not static; it is responsive and ever-changing. As the world shifts along with the understandings and skills needed to live a good life in it, so does EPS. Thinking critically, acting responsibly, and leading compassionately continue to be the immutable and persisting things that make that good life and those