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According to Clark and Chalmers, the brain is continually integrating useful components it finds in the external world, such as our fingers for counting; pen and paper for writing; and, more recently, slide rules, calculators, and computers.

Wise integration of our evolving and powerful technology demands that we rethink our curriculum.

One of my favorite challenges is to have students summarize in one sentence the essence of whatever book they're reading. Most can't do this—or can't do it well—because we don't emphasize conciseness.

Effective Thinking, which would include creative and critical thinking as well as portions of math, science, logic, persuasion, and even storytelling

Effective Action, which would include entrepreneurship, goal setting, planning, persistence, project management, and feedback;

Effective Relationships, which would include emotional intelligence, teamwork, ethics, and more.

Effective Accomplishment—what you do with what you've learned. That part would be entirely project-based and real-world oriented and would differ for every student.

We might begin by eliminating as separate classes all the subjects we now teach: math, English, science, social studies.

Technology would be introduced from the start as a "thinking extender" through tools like simulation that show students the consequences of their actions in a variety of contexts and circumstances.

many of them web-based

learn from the earliest grades how to involve world databases, knowledge, sources, and teams in their thinking processes

Instead of today's focus on pre-established subject matter, with thinking skills presented randomly, haphazardly, and inconsistently, the student and teacher focus would always be on thinking in its various forms and on being an effective thinker, using examples from math, science, social studies, and language arts.

Effective Action would begin by fostering Steven Covey's seven (now eight) habits of highly effective people—Be proactive, Begin with the end in mind, Put first things first, and so on—from the earliest grades.

learn how to start and manage real-life projects

Effective Relationships would foster students' high-level communication skills: one-on-one, in teams, in peer groups, in communities, and in work groups.

both real and virtual are equally important.

how to best fit their own personality with all the communication possibilities offered in today's and tomorrow's world.

students would read and analyze great works of literature that focus on human relations and relationships, study languages and translation, and explore material from the social studies.

taken every year by all students

The focus would be on finding and executing real projects that extend the student's knowledge and capabilities in an area he or she is passionate about—projects that are helpful to the community and world.