This qualitative case study revealed the characteristics of one secondary school in
its interpretation and application of a 21 st century educational program. The insights
revealed from the teacher and administrator interviews and classroom observations are
critical in understanding how a public 9-12 school implemented particular aspects of a
21 st century educational program. The participants that were interviewed during the study
stressed the importance of the school’s role in preparing young people for the demands of
the 21 st century global society. The 3 R’s of Rigor, Relevance and Resources were the
key elements that distinguished a successful educational program of a 21 st century school.
In order for this transformation to occur it is imperative that the school establishes
a comprehensive vision and articulate its importance to the staff. This along with
constant professional development is key in the success of the implementation of a 21 st
century educational program. By using the MILE Guide as a tool for gauging the
effective rate of implementation of all the necessary elements of a 21 st century
educational program, the study shed some insight on the practical and realistic
experiences of a school organization.
The major findings from this study revealed that:
There should be a united focus for the district that is communicated
regularly and accurately to the teachers with specific expectations from
the administration.
This united focus should include the creation of a lesson plan format with
the essential components for 21 st century learning, such as the 3 R’s.
There is a need for a more personalized professional development in the
form of Professional Learning Communities that integrate individual
teacher needs with the district focus.
To achieve 21 st century capability, there should be an instructional
emphasis on the 3 R’s, using technology as a resource to promote rigor
and relevance in the curriculum as reflected in Appendix C