Pre-service ELT Teachers’ Beliefs and Perceptions on 21st Century Learning and Innovation Skills (4Cs)

Abstract

This study investigated ELT pre-service teachers’ beliefs and perceptions on 21 st century learning and innovation skills with a special emphasis on critical, creative thinking, collaboration and communication skills (4Cs) in particular. Data were collected with a customized questionnaire including closed and open ended questions and semi-structured interviews. Results demonstrated that pre-service teachers mainly perceived 21 st century learning as the integration of technology into classrooms teaching. They were also moderately aware of and involved in 4Cs though they had high positive perceptions towards them. The words and phrases they used for the definition of critical, creative thinking, collaboration and communication were associated with the ones used in the educational context although 21 st century skills may have divergent or specialized meanings in different context. Pre-service teachers also held negative beliefs about emphasis of 4Cs in the national curriculum and assessment, but positive beliefs about professional development for 4Cs. Â