Curriculum Framework

Overall Goal

The Empower program aims to uplift students by providing them with a comprehensive set of 21st century skills that will make them competitive in today’s job market, and guide them towards career options that align with their strengths and interests. This curriculum was inspired by many other organizations that were advocating the education of 21st century skills. Among our research were two reports published by the World Economic Forum : Future of Jobs and New Vision for Education.

Learning Objectives

Develop effective communication skills, including presentation skills, active listening, and conflict resolution.

Develop digital literacy skills, including using technology for research, communication, and collaboration.

Develop analytical reasoning skills, including critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making.

Develop creative thinking skills, including innovation, design thinking, and imagination.

Develop leadership skills, including teamwork, management, and strategic planning.

Develop personal and interpersonal skills, including self-awareness, and emotional intelligence.

Teaching Approach

The Empower program uses a project-based instructional approach, where students are given real-world problems to solve and opportunities to apply their skills in practical ways. This involves pair and group projects. Subjects will be covered in the context of the project in focus rather than as a topic on its own. Each project will be evaluated in terms of its ability to deliver the skills improvements and cover the required knowledge content from various subject areas.

Some examples of projects are

Project Runway

How can I upcycle used clothing creatively to suit different occasions?

My Digital Passport

How can I use digital applications on my digital devices responsibly to be more productive?

My Company Limited

How can I make my skills profitable?

Fun with Food

How can I create a fusion dish influenced by cultures of my choice?

Assessment

Assessment will be ongoing throughout the program, with teachers using a variety of methods to evaluate student progress and provide feedback. Students are not given a grade but progress is measured through the use of a rubric mapped to each project based on learning outcomes.

This information is used to guide continuous student learning and development. An example of the assessment rubric stages for assessing Creative Thinking Skills can be found below.

Skill	Beginner	Developing	Accomplished	Exemplary
Creative Thinking Skills	I can attempt to use idea creation techniques (such as brainstroming)	I can use a limited range of idea creation techniques (such as brainstorming)	I can use a range of idea creation techniques (such as brainstorming)	I can use a wide range of idea creation techniques (such as brainstorming)
	I can attempt to create new ideas	I can create new and worthwhile ideas	I can create new and worthwhile ideas (both incremental and radical concepts)	I can confidently create new and worthwhile ideas (both incremental and radical concepts)
	I can attempt to elaborate my own ideas in order to improve and maximize creative efforts	I can elaborate and refine my own ideas in order to improve and maximize creative efforts	I can elaborate, refine and analyze my own ideas in order to improve and maximize creative efforts	I can elaborate, refine, analyze and evaluate my own ideas in order to improve and maximize creative efforts

Expected Outcomes

Expected outcomes of the program include improved skills in foundational literacies (digital, financial, cultural, and civic, etc.), increased competencies in the 4 C’s (Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking), and character qualities (Persistence and Grit, Curiosity, Initiative, Leadership, etc.). Students will also have an improved understanding of the basics of core subjects such as English and IT, as well as a set of interdisciplinary themes.

The ultimate goal is to prepare students for success in the 21st-century workforce by providing them with a holistic education that emphasizes the development of critical thinking, creativity, communication, and other essential skills.

Career and Personal Guidance

Throughout the program, teachers will assess each student’s strengths and interests, and guide them towards career options that align with their goals and aspirations. This will include providing information about different options, exposure to professions from different careers, helping students understand the requirements and expectations of different careers, and providing guidance on how to prepare for and succeed in their chosen field.