Pre-service chemistry teachers’ attitudes and attributes toward the twenty-first century skills

Abstract

Teacher education has a significant role in preparing pre-service teachers with adequate 21st century skills. There has been a shift of educational standards in the 21st century learning that replaces basic skill competencies and knowledge expectation of the past. These changes need to be mastered by pre-service teachers. They will offer valuable insights for the present and future pre-service teachers when they have positive attitudes and attributes to the 21st century skills. This research aimed to analyse the pre-service Chemistry teachers’ attitudes and attributes toward the 21st century skills. Descriptive method involving 48 pre-service Chemistry teachers was used in this research. Ten skills grouped into four classes involving ways of thinking, ways of working, tools for working, and living in the world were identified using measurable dimensions: knowledge, skills, and attitudes / values / ethics. The overall findings indicated that pre-service Chemistry teachers expressed moderately positive attitude toward the 21st century skills but had lack of communication and collaboration skill in the ways of working. Each indicator of attitudes and attributes was discussed. For the future research, it is suggested to promote the 21st century skills using appropriate methods and approaches to pre-service Chemistry teachers’ in order to get more qualified education.