Integrating 21st century skills in Araling Panlipunan practices, challenges, and enhancement strategies

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and validate a contextualized instructional guide designed to integrate 21st-century skills into Grade 6 Araling Panlipunan. Using a developmental-descriptive research design, the study involved expert validators and Grade 6 teachers from private elementary schools in Laoag City. The instructional guide was evaluated across three domains: content quality, instructional quality, and technical quality. Data were gathered using a structured validation checklist and analyzed using weighted mean and standard deviation. Results revealed that the instructional guide obtained very high validity ratings in all domains, indicating strong alignment with the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs) and effective integration of 21st-century skills. The findings suggest that the developed guide is a practical and reliable resource for enhancing classroom instruction and bridging the gap between curriculum policy and actual teaching practices.