In 2008, Tony Wagner, Expert In Residence at Harvard University’s Innovation Lab, published “Rigor Redefined” in Educational Leadership, the magazine of ASCD. In it, Wagner makes the claim that “to teach and test the skills that our students need, we must first redefine excellent instruction.” If students need different skills and competencies than schools are providing, then schools and teaching need to change. His argument for true college and career readiness still rings true seven years later.

In this post on Ed Week’s Learning Deeply blog, Bob Lenz agrees with Tony Wagner and explores how schools need to rethink academic rigor and clearly define 21st century outcomes for students.