Skills and Dispositions, Part 1: Definition and Measurement

Overview of the research on student motivation, engagement, and 21st-century skills that provides recommendations on common definitions and measurement strategies

An overview of the most influential research on student motivation, engagement, and 21st-century skills. This paper, originally published in 2012,  presents a holistic framework for thinking about student success. It provides operational definitions for the skills and dispositions that matter most, and suggests ways that educators, parents, and out-of-school-time program providers can begin to measure these skills in young people. This is the first of a two-part series. The second part covers strategies for building motivation, engagement, and 21st-century skills.