CHAPTER IV
DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
This qualitative study investigated the beliefs of teachers and administrators in
regards to the implementation of a 21 st century educational program in a public school
setting. Specifically, the study sought to answer the following questions:
1. How does the district’s vision reflect the critical skills needed for the 21 st
century workplace?
2. What are the beliefs of administrators regarding 21 st century learning?
3. How do teachers approach instruction for 21 st century students?
4. Is there alignment between the components of 21 st century learning, the
articulation of the school’s vision and the actual instructional practices in
the classroom?
5. How are teachers effectively integrating higher order thinking, real-world
relevance, and technology literacy in core classrooms in order to teach in a
21 st century context?
The study focused on the essential framework for 21 st century learning, the
integration of the 3 R’s: thinking skills (rigor), technology usage (resources) and
instruction in a real world context in the form of authentic learning (relevance). These
components also influenced the observation tool that was used to guide the classroom
observations (Appendix C). The 3 R’s were drawn from the MILE Guide that described
the components of an effective 21 st century learning program. The MILE Guide’s fields
of Student Knowledge and Skills, Education Support Systems and Education Leadership
were also examined to support the research findings. Data was triangulated through
observations, teacher and administrator interviews and review of district documents such
as vision statements, lesson plans and curriculum. After transcription by an independent
professional agency, the participants’ responses were categorized in order to develop
themes that help support the research questions.