Hilton & Pellegrino Clusters of 21st Century Competencies
The Hilton & Pellegrino Clusters of 21st Century Competencies is a framework developed by the National Research Council, a non-profit that conducts research to advise the government, the public, and the scientific community. The framework focuses on a set of key skills that promote deeper learning, college and career readiness, student-centered learning, and higher order thinking, and was developed by aligning common 21st century skills with existing taxonomies of cognitive, interpersonal, and intrapersonal skills.
Breakdown by Domain
Domain Key
Cognitive
Emotion
Social
Values
Perspectives
Identity
- Cognitive 31%
- Emotion 8%
- Social 23%
- Values 31%
- Perspectives 4%
- Identity 4%
Key Features
Context & Culture
- Notes the importance and influence of culture on 21st century competencies and the need for more research that controls for family background
- Describes research suggesting skills can be developed in formal, informal (e.g., afterschool programs, museums, homes, etc.), and workplace (e.g., professional development, training, etc.) learning environments
Developmental Perspective
- Discusses the impact of development on some competencies, but no concrete learning progression is provided
Associated Outcomes
- Describes the links between various 21st century competencies and success in education, work, health, adult relationships, civic participation, and other life outcomes
Available Resources
Support Materials
- Informational materials such as briefs, presentations, and videos that summarize the framework and accompanying report
- A series of workshop summaries and papers on assessment, academic integration, and skill demands
- Provides guidance on how to develop 21st century skills, including policy recommendations; coordination with social and emotional learning efforts; and alignment with learning standards for math, English, and science
Programs & Strategies
- Offers a practitioner guide that outlines evidence-based teaching techniques for engaging students in “deeper learning” to build 21st century skills
- No concrete programs/strategies provided
Measurement Tools
- Recommends specific measurement tools for cognitive competence, including: PISA, Multistate Bar Examination (MBE), Multistate Essay Examination (MEE), and Multistate Performance Test (MPT)
- Recommends general measurement strategies for intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies, including surveys, social network analysis, situational judgment tests, and behavioral observations
- Provides information about the limitations of certain measurement tools/strategies
- Includes a workshop summary and several papers that explore strategies for assessing a select set of 21st century skills
Key Publications
- National Research Council. (2012). Education for Life and Work: Developing Transferable Knowledge and Skills in the 21st Century. Retrieved from: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/13398/education-for-life-and-work-developing-transferable-knowledge-and-skills