Learning and Innovation Skills in the General English Textbook for Advanced Level in Sri Lanka: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Abstract

The dawn of the 21st century and the associated technological, demographic, and socio-economic changes necessitated reforms in language education to equip learners with a diverse variety of skills, commonly referred to as 21st century learning and innovation skills, in addition to content and knowledge. Language teaching material, an integral and important element in teaching/learning, must evolve correspondingly to meet the demand for these skills. Centrally developed textbooks are the primary materials used in English as a second language teaching/learning in the Sri Lankan public education system. This paper investigates the representation of learning and innovation skills (Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Collaboration) in the current General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (G.C.E. (A/L)) English textbook of Sri Lanka. Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) was employed as the research methodology, and a coding frame was developed and utilized as the primary analytical tool. Two additional independent co-coders with diverse expertise also engaged in coding to boost the study’s trustworthiness. The findings reveal that the textbook contains a variety of activities that promote Creativity, Critical Thinking, Communication and Collaboration skills. However, the results indicate that certain subskills are not adequately emphasized to enhance the holistic development of the 21st century skills. The study offers insightful recommendations for curriculum and material developers.