21st Century Skills in Teaching Economics: K to 12 Spiral Instructional Modelling (SIM) in the Philippines

This study explored the integration of the 21st century skills in teaching economics for social studies, Grade 10. It sought to answer the following objectives: (1) extrapolate insights, updates, retrospects and prospects in terms of content, instruction, and assessment features of the K to 12 curriculum in Economics, (2) describe the sequence of integration of 21st century skills, differentiated instruction, contextualization and localization in the actual teaching demonstration, and (4) interpolate the appropriate instructional modelling for effective economics teaching.Acase analysis of 65 clustermembers in Section P, representing the 780 training participants of the K to 12 Grade 10 Mass Training for social studies teachers, in May 9-13, 2015 in Cebu City, was used. Teaching demonstrations and evaluation instruments generated the needed information. Data are treated using inductive analysis in order to generate paradoxical themes through metaphors. During the actual teaching demonstrations, four process observers were selected among the four teams to provide demonstration feedback.The integration of the 21st century skills in teaching economics was aptly carried out in the areas of critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. Teacher demonstrators were aware of its integration; however, the integration of creativity as one of the four skills is found insufficient, which needed utmost attention with full academic administrative support.

Keywords: 21stCentury Skills, life skills, instructional modelling, learning quadrants