The College, Career, and Life Readiness (CCLR) Framework® developed by Hobsons is a structured blueprint designed to prepare middle and high school students for success after graduation. Unlike traditional college and career readiness frameworks, CCLR expands its focus to encompass a broader range of competencies that prepare students for success in various aspects of life, regardless of their post-high school pathways. The framework identifies six key competencies for students in grades 6-12, including self-awareness, personal finances, support networks, community engagement, learning styles, and academic and career goal setting. These competencies emphasize holistic development, financial literacy, social and emotional intelligence, and the ability to navigate life transitions. Moreover, in an increasingly technology-driven world, digital citizenship is highlighted as a crucial aspect of the framework.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the significance of digital technology in education, emphasizing the need for students not only to be academically prepared but also digitally literate and responsible citizens in the digital realm (Darolia, 2022; Hess & Leal, 2001). Research has consistently shown that teacher-related attributes, perspectives, and attitudes significantly impact the successful integration of technology in the classroom (Bolliger, 2004; Thurmond 2003). Teachers’ comfort and positive attitudes toward technology are fundamental for effective technology use in education (Ritzhaupt et al., 2017). Additionally, students’ perceptions of their teachers’ technology presence and interaction, coupled with their self-management and self-efficacy in online learning, influence their satisfaction, intention to use technology, and readiness for the future.
In addition to these insights, the study discussed in this context delved into the intricate relationships among various factors affecting secondary students, such as academic self-efficacy, self-management of learning, teacher interaction, teacher presence in online learning activities, student satisfaction with online learning, future intention to use technology for personal advancement, and technological academic and professional future-readiness. These findings contributed to our understanding of the interplay between Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and digital citizenship, underlining the importance of teacher technological professional development. These ideas are emphasized when U.S. secondary students place substantial importance on their self-efficacy and self-management, which significantly impact their perception of technology, future intentions, and readiness. While student satisfaction with online learning was closely related to academic self-efficacy and self-management, it did not significantly mediate the relationship between other factors and future intentions.
The research study underscored the need for SEL benchmarks to incorporate digital citizenship and digital wellness, urging educators to receive specific professional development. The strong correlations among academic self-efficacy, self-management, and technological future-readiness emphasized the importance of simultaneously building students’ technological confidence alongside their academic skills. Additionally, the study recommended implications for teacher training and professional development, highlighting the necessity for educators to integrate SEL and digital citizenship into direct instruction effectively. Given the political debates surrounding SEL in some states, using digital citizenship and digital wellness frameworks can offer a valuable approach to teaching life skills.
In conclusion, the CCLR Framework® provides a comprehensive tool that equips students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in college, careers, and life, while also emphasizing the importance of digital citizenship and effective technology integration in education.
Resources:
Bolliger, D. U. (2004). Key factors for determining student satisfaction in online courses. International Journal on E-Learning, 3(1), 61–67.
Darolia, R. (2022, March 11). Education technology post-COVID-19: A missed opportunity. Brookings Institution.
Hess, F. M., & Leal, D. L. (2001). A shrinking “digital divide”? The provision of classroom computers across urban school systems. Social Science Quarterly, 82(4), 765–778. http://www.jstor.org/stable/42955759
Thurmond, V. A. (2003). Defining interaction and strategies to enhance interactions in web-based courses. Nurse Educator, 28(5), 237–241. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006223-200309000-00013
