The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between connected learning environments and rural learners' development of 21st century skills. The driving question for the research is, "what is the impact of introducing a technology supported connected learning environment on rural learners' development of 21st century skills?" The need arises out of the undesirable state of education in South African public schools, particularly in poor, rural and marginalised areas. The literature shows that the learning environments in these contexts are stuck with an old education system that needs radical reinvention for the 21st century. The connected learning framework is used as a model for learning and a reference for design of the intervention that is employed. The study uses a qualitative and experimental approach for data collection, using semi-structured interviews, focus groups and data collected through a social media platform. The results show that connected learning is a possible approach to education in rural contexts, with learners showing evidence of 21st century skills development over the period of the study. Theoretical insights generated include the mechanisms with which connected learning environments promote 21st century skills development. The study also generated helpful insights for organisations and practitioners wanting to introduce modern learning environments in rural schools in South Africa.

The consensus is clear: our schools and instructional methods are in desperate need of an update (Carnoy, 1998; Daggett, n.d.; Fullan, 2007; Keigel & Patler, 1991; Schwahn & McGarvey, 2011; and Wagner, 2008). In order for students to be globally competitive, school leaders need to identify what students need to know, what they need to be able to do, and what they need to be like to be successful post-graduation, and then change and adapt school practices to meet global needs with an awareness of the 21st century learner. 21st century skills development is necessary in order for students to compete globally (AMA, 2010; ASCD, 2008; Cookson, 2009; Friedman, 2007; Keigel & Patler, 2009; Levine, 2009; Partnership, 2010; Pink, 2006; and Schwahn & McGarvey, 2011). <br>The purpose of this descriptive case study was to investigate a change process that incorporated the Partnership for 21st Century Skills Framework for 21st Century Learning into curricula. I focused on the leaders' perceptions of the change process that allowed for 21st Century Skills to become embedded into the curricula. I was interested in learning what needed to be changed and how the change occurred. The theoretical lens through which this case was studied and described is Adaptive Leadership Theory (Heifetz, 1994; Heifetz, R.A., Linsky, M., & Grashow, A., 2009; Glover, J., Jones, G., and Friedman, H., 2002a; Jones, Shannon, & Weigel, 2009), which can be defined as leadership that inspires and creates breakthroughs, accomplishes deep change, and develops the capability of the organization to survive, adapt, and thrive in complex, competitive, and challenging environments. Adaptive leadership recognizes that anyone, anywhere within the organization, can be a leader (Heifetz, 1994). Three overarching themes emerged: 1) Motivation for Change, and subsequent Student Needs, 2) Mission, and 3) Collaboration. / School of Education / Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program for Education Leaders (IDPEL) / EdD / Dissertation

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Twenty-first century skills are important for secondary students to experience during school. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gauge the perception of senior students regarding their exposure to the Virginia 5C's (5C's) and the 21st century skills through a senior project experience. The central research question was, Did the senior project at a rural high school in Virginia expose students to the 5C's and 21st century skills? According to the Virginia Board of Education, the 5C's (critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship) are essential for every public high school student to learn. The 5C's have been incorporated into all public high schools in Virginia, beginning with the freshmen class of 2018-2019. Information was gathered to identify improvements that could be made to a senior project at a public secondary school to determine if 21st century skills and the 5C's were exposed. The senior project coursework included an introduction to 21st century skills and the 5C's, resume workshop, interview training, and an actual interview. Seniors worked 30 minutes each day with an instructor that totaled 2 hours for the senior project experience. After completion of the senior project, 22 students voluntarily completed an electronic survey that contained 12 questions. Results were analyzed and four specific findings were evident. Participants agreed that the senior project exposed them to the 21st century skills and the 5C's. Although the researcher could not prove that the students are better prepared for post-graduation because of the senior project, participants agreed to the survey question that the senior project helped better prepare them for post-graduation. Also the participants agreed that they enjoyed the senior project overall. The results of this study could support leaders with implementing a senior project if the desired outcome is for students to gain knowledge of the 5C's and 21st century skills. / Doctor of Education / Twenty-first century skills are important for secondary students to experience during school. The purpose of this qualitative study was to gauge the perception of senior students regarding their exposure to the Virginia 5C's (5C's) and the 21st century skills through a senior project experience. The central research question was, Did the senior project at a rural high school in Virginia expose students to the 5C's and 21st century skills? According to the Virginia Board of Education, the 5C's (critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship) are essential for every public high school student to learn. The 5C's have been incorporated into all public high schools in Virginia, beginning with the freshmen class of 2018-2019. Information was gathered to identify improvements that could be made to a senior project at a public secondary school in the western portion of Virginia to determine if 21st century skills and the 5C's were successfully addressed. After completion of the senior project, 22 students voluntarily completed an electronic survey that contained 12 questions. Results were analyzed and it was found that the overall senior project experience exposed students to the 5C's and 21st century skills. Although the researcher could not prove that the students are better prepared for post-graduation because of the senior project, participants agreed to the survey question that the senior project helped better prepare them for post-graduation. Also the participants agreed that they enjoyed the senior project overall.

The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions of elementary school principals in Southeastern Virginia regarding implementation of 21st century skills. The Partnership for 21st Century Learning Skills framework was used as a foundation to identify the skills needed for the 21st century. In addition, the framework was used to examine elementary principal's perceptions of the most important and relevant 21st century skills to implement in elementary schools. A mixed method study of elementary school principals in Southeastern Virginia Public Schools was conducted. Principals from school divisions in Southeastern Virginia were identified and asked to complete a survey. An online research survey was distributed to Virginia principals to determine their perceptions of implementing 21st century skills in elementary schools in Virginia. This study revealed that elementary principals perceived 21st century skills as being "very important" and "very relevant" in elementary schools; however, the rate of embeddedness into the elementary curriculum was low. This study yielded valuable information regarding the perception of school leaders that might influence research, theory, practice and professional development of elementary school principals as we move further into the 21st century and its associated challenges and demands. / Ed. D.

Consumer Studies is a valuable and multifaceted subject in South African schools, requiring that teachers in the subject are well prepared. Pre-service Consumer Studies teachers need to be prepared to become lifelong learners to cope with the dynamic nature of the subject, as well as to develop various 21st century skills to be able to deal with the demands of these times. Structured guidance, however, could not be uncovered for the preparation of pre-service Consumer Studies teachers to empower them with the requirements for Consumer Studies education. Sett-directed learning is a process that supports the developn1ent of various 21st century skills, including lifelong learning, and could thus contribute to the development of preservice Consumer Studies teachers, if included in their preparation. A suitable teaching-leaming strategy that could be utilised in the preparation module for Consumer Studies teachers, as well as a vehicle to promote self-directed learning as part of such preparation, was identified in the form of project-based learning. A qualitative case study was employed to investigate how project-based learning as a teaching-learning strategy could promote self-directed learning in a pre-service Consumer Studies teacher preparation module. Project-based learning was found to foster the development of various skills as part of the process, including planning and collaboration skills. Subject content, consistent with what is required to be taught in Consumer Studies education on high school level, was developed and self-directed learning was promoted in participants using project-based learning. Recommendations were suggested for the preparation of pre-service Consumer Studies teachers, as well as for the effective structuring of projects and project-based learning in Consumer Studies. / MEd (Curriculum Development), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Consumer Studies is a valuable and multifaceted subject in South African schools, requiring that teachers in the subject are well prepared. Pre-service Consumer Studies teachers need to be prepared to become lifelong learners to cope with the dynamic nature of the subject, as well as to develop various 21st century skills to be able to deal with the demands of these times. Structured guidance, however, could not be uncovered for the preparation of pre-service Consumer Studies teachers to empower them with the requirements for Consumer Studies education. Sett-directed learning is a process that supports the developn1ent of various 21st century skills, including lifelong learning, and could thus contribute to the development of preservice Consumer Studies teachers, if included in their preparation. A suitable teaching-leaming strategy that could be utilised in the preparation module for Consumer Studies teachers, as well as a vehicle to promote self-directed learning as part of such preparation, was identified in the form of project-based learning. A qualitative case study was employed to investigate how project-based learning as a teaching-learning strategy could promote self-directed learning in a pre-service Consumer Studies teacher preparation module. Project-based learning was found to foster the development of various skills as part of the process, including planning and collaboration skills. Subject content, consistent with what is required to be taught in Consumer Studies education on high school level, was developed and self-directed learning was promoted in participants using project-based learning. Recommendations were suggested for the preparation of pre-service Consumer Studies teachers, as well as for the effective structuring of projects and project-based learning in Consumer Studies. / MEd (Curriculum Development), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Denna studie är en kvalitativ intervjustudie som behandlar IKT-verktyg och dess inverkan på grundskolans undervisning. Studien bygger på en analys av sex stycken lärarintervjuer där lärarna utifrån sina erfarenheter och perspektiv ger en tydligare bild av de positiva och negativa aspekterna av surfplattans användning i grundskolans undervisning. Den syftar även på att analysera och synliggöra elever som eventuellt kan gynnas eller missgynnas av att ha en surfplatta i sin undervisning. Studien belyser olika påverkansfaktorer till IKT-användningen, exempelvis lärares IKT-kompetens, lärares attityder, IT-infrastrukturen och vikten av skolans IKT-pedagog. Studiens resultat visar på att IKT-verktyg ska ses som ett komplement till vanlig traditionell undervisning. Det ska finnas en balans där den traditionella undervisningen kan utvecklas och bli bättre med IKT-verktygets hjälp. IKT-verktyg såsom surfplattan ger lärare en möjlighet att använda sig av andra metoder i sin undervisning som kan bidra till att inkludera fler elever i undervisningen. Vidare så visar studiens resultat att surfplattan kan bidra med en ökad studiemotivation för elever och den visar på vikten av att arbeta med 21st century skills där eleverna får utveckla kunskaper som är viktiga arr behärska inför framtiden. Sammanfattningsvis, så innebär ett arbete med 21st century skills att göra den digitala tekniken till en naturlig del i vardagen och att lära inför framtiden.

School districts continue to integrate emerging technologies and expectations for 21st century teaching and learning. This movement began with release of Goals 2000 (1994) and has continued through National Education Technology Plan (2010) that noted the “challenge for our education system is to leverage technology to create relevant learning experiences that mirror students’ daily lives and the reality of their futures.” In order to meet that challenge, schools must enlist teachers who are prepared to teach 21st century skills in the technology-rich classroom. Teacher education programs also need to align their preparation models to prepare teachers for that challenge. There are a variety of models – stand-alone instructional technology courses, online courses, content methods courses, practicum and student teaching experiences – used to achieve this. Several grant programs provided financial support in the early 21st century to help institutions implement new models of instruction for preservice teachers. Also, several frameworks emerged to guide classroom instruction as teachers implemented 21st century skills into technology-rich classrooms. The purpose of the current study was to understand teachers’ perceptions of their preparedness to teach 21st century skills in the technology-rich classroom. The study was driven by research questions which sought to understand (a) teacher preparation models in the areas of technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge, (b) teachers’ perceptions of their teacher education programs effectiveness for teaching 21st century skills in the technology-rich classroom, (c) teachers’ feelings of efficacy and self-confidence for first-year implementation, and (d) if relationships exist between particular teacher preparation models and teachers’ perceptions of effectiveness and adequacy. A mixed method design was used to explore the research questions. Twenty-nine first-year high school teachers in a technology-rich school district with a framework for 21st century skills integration participated in a survey. Six teachers participated in follow-up focus groups at the end of their first-year of teaching. The researcher used quantitative analysis for the survey and qualitative coding for the focus group interviews. The two analyses were reported together to develop findings in response to the research questions.

The purpose of this non-experimental, quantitative study is to investigate the relationship between the use of project-based learning (PBL) by secondary business teachers and time spent in professional development of secondary business teachers for the teaching of 21st century skills. The four identified 21st century skills that will be researched include: (1) critical thinking, (2) collaboration, (3) communication, (4) creativity and innovation. A sample of 316 secondary business teachers were surveyed about their classroom practice and reflection of teaching 21st century skills. This study used a modified version of the 21st Century Teaching and Learning Survey. Survey results were analyzed for relationships using correlational and regression analysis. Business teachers reported a statistically strong relationship between the use of PBL and the teaching of 21st century skills. A statistically significant relationship between time spent in professional development and the teaching of 21st century skills was not found. Regression results indicated that the use of PBL had an impact on the teaching of 21st century skills. This research guides teachers, school administrators, and CTE directors at the state and district level towards the creation of professional development and implementation strategies when applying PBL methods in career and technical education settings.