Many people dismiss “21st century skills” as a pedagogical fad. Although the 21st century skills tenets–creative thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, etc–are sound, there are also some valid emperor-has-no-clothes critiques of this recent learning system buzz phrase. For example, some critics point
Teaching 21st century skills is natural and effective for many teachers. Active and dedicated teachers are able to create interactive learning systems that encourage students to think for themselves and work together to achieve goals. But while these teachers and
By encouraging students to memorize information and pass tests, too often American learning systems also discourage students to think creatively and critically. This style has not only contributed to the lack of competitiveness in American learning systems and workplaces, but
What’s so novel about 21st-century skills? Innovative educators who use engaging projects, LMSs, and other technology in their learning systems are certainly nothing new. In discussing 21st-century skills, many teachers claim to have already implemented styles like modeling instruction, which
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, working to infuse 21st-century skills into America’s learning systems, claims its goal is to provide students with a rigorous, world-class education that encourages critical and creative thinking. But Jay Matthews of the Washington Post
Teaching 21st-century skills takes learning systems out of the isolated classroom and into the real world. In one project at Horace Mann Middle School in Charleston, West Virginia, students are engaged in an elaborate community learning system. They are working
