Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Education
Major
Educational Practice
Date of Defense
6-27-2017
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Jacquelyn Lewis-Harris
Committee
Dr. Gayle Wilkinson
Dr. Kim Song
Dr. Charles Granger
Abstract
In schools across the country, there appears to be an increasing focus on 21st Century Skills development. While there may be some variance among specific definitions of these skills by national groups and individual schools, review of the literature has identified eight common features among widely accepted frameworks: creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, collaboration, digital literacy, social and cultural skills, and self-regulation. It is proposed that integrated curriculum should be considered an ideal method for the teaching and learning of 21st Century Skills. While neither the collection of skills designated as “21st century” in and of themselves, nor the integrated curriculum are novel ideas in education, there appears to be a gap in related literature studying the complementary relationship of the two. Surveys were conducted to measure frequency of practices associated with the integrated curriculum and teacher attitudes related to 21st Century Skills. Teachers were interviewed to identify practices and attitudes, providing data for mixed-methods analysis. An interrelationship between the integrated curriculum and the teaching of 21st Century Skills as well as barriers to best practice were identified.
OCLC Number
1038785054
Recommended Citation
Mohr, Kimberly and Welker, Robert W., "The Role of Integrated Curriculum in the 21st Century School" (2017). Dissertations. 688.
https://irl.umsl.edu/dissertation/688