This “21st Century skills” detritus is part of the source of the changing of the Social Studies curriculum here in NC. The people at the NC Department of Education have bought into this mess hook, line, and sinker. The fact is that working hard, studying, and actually taking an interest in your studies are skills that work in any century. But in education, the latest fad (supported by “research”) takes hold of those who make policy, and they shuffle along with it, arms outstretched, making a few groans and perhaps a few oozing noises.
Thanks. A wonderful comment. All the bad ideas are now “research-based.” In that case, could we just have something based on experience??
Maybe “bought into” isn’t right. That lets the Dept. of Ed off the hook. “Perpetrated” might be more like it.
In any case, please use my work to help out. That linked-to article is fairly aggressive, and might make a few of these sophists blink.