Integrating 21st Century Skills Into Career and Technical Education Classrooms: A Literature Review

This descriptive review examines how 21st century skills are integrated in career and technical education (CTE) classrooms with particular attention to practices relevant to the workforce. In Virginia, these skills are defined by the 5Cs: critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and citizenship. The discussion explores the evolving role of CTE, grounded in this 21st century learning framework (“5Cs”) and experiential learning theory, and examines challenges and strategies associated with implementing the 5Cs. Based on contemporary literature and Profile of a Virginia Graduate, this review highlights effective strategies in CTE instruction, equity considerations, and implications for CTE teacher preparation, practice, and research. Seventy-two quality sources were analyzed. Findings highlight how instructional approaches, such as reflective practice, support technical and competency-based learning. The practice oriented synthesis of literature, theories, and frameworks with direct workforce relevance includes a Virginia-based case on CTE teacher preparation to illustrate how these approaches are applied in a state context. This work contributes to the field’s understanding of innovative and promising practices for aligning the CTE classroom with 21st century demands.