Experts say the attention and resources being paid by educators and policymakers in other countries to developing students’ technical skills could put U.S. students behind the curve very soon.

Australia, Britain, China, and South Korea have launched plans to ensure that all students have the tools, as well as the essential knowledge and skills, to use technology effectively for learning and work. And a number of developing nations are ramping up programs to help teachers and students become proficient in using computers and other information and communication tools. Little research is available to show how U.S. students are doing in gaining proficiency in using and understanding technology resources, and the nation’s foray into teaching such skills lacks the kind of intensity and consistency that many experts say is needed.

In general, there is a growing demand for schools to instill critical-thinking, analytical, and technology skills, as well as the “soft skills” of creativity, collaboration, and communication. Three of the largest technology companies—Cisco, Intel, and Microsoft Corp.—are collaborating on an assessment of those kinds of skills that could be incorporated into international comparison tests, such as the Program for International Student Assessment, or PISA. It would include a test of technology skills, as well as critical thinking and the ability to collaborate effectively.

Click here to read the full story from Education Week’s Digital Directions.