Reflections on the 21st Century Skills into the Curriculum of Social Studies Course

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the reflections of the 21st century skills into the curriculum of social studies course in Turkey. The classification made by the institutions classifying the 21st century skills in line with this objective has been examined and the classification made by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) has been considered as it has been generally accepted. The study investigated the reflections of the 21st century skills on social studies curriculum being subject to detailed content analysis. Accordingly, the basic approach of the curriculum was examined as to whether these skills were included in terms of the values in learning outcomes. Among qualitative research methods, the document analysis technique was used in the study. The results have shown that the 21st century skills are largely included in the social studies curriculum. However, the 21st century skills are not included in the curriculum as a concept. The main components of the 21st century skills are not equally included in the curriculum. Those included most information, media and technology skills (6 sub-skills) and learning and innovation skills (5 sub-skills). The life and professional skills were included least (2 sub-skills). It has been found out that creativity and innovation, information and communication technologies literacy, social and multicultural skills, which are within the 21st century skills, are included in the Social Studies curriculum as innovative thinking, digital literacy and social participation skills. However, there was no explanation regarding how those skills intended to be acquired. The flexibility and adaptability, productivity and responsibility, leadership and responsibility skills were not directly included in the curriculum. The concept of information literacy that came into prominence in the 21st century was mainly reflected in the social studies course curriculum with the skill dimension. Accordingly, the media literacy, financial literacy, digital literacy, political literacy, map literacy and environmental literacy have been included widely. Considering the 21st century skills, the social studies curriculum can be updated. Distribution of these skills on class levels can be done in a more balanced manner. The 21st century perspective can be evoked in the basic approach and philosophy of the curriculum.