Literacies for a New Age

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Dr. Tony Wagner addressing the “Seven Survival Skills”—the core competencies he deems necessary for success both in college and in the twenty-first-century workforce.

Expert Leaders, Thinkers, & Educators on 21st Century Learning.
Check out this video with Milton Chen & Tony Wagner on Learning and Instruction in the 21st Century!

 

Check out this video made from educators at the 2009 New Literacies Workshop!

What are the main differences between 20th century and 21st century education?


What are the specific skills needed for 21st century literacies?

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14 Responses to “Literacies for a New Age”

  1. Karen Wiggins Says:

    Main differences: More people having access to the web. Availability of 2.0–social networking. Young students being totally at home with new technology.

    Skills:Ability to recognize viable information using a variety of media. This includes all types of web sites as well as TV, movies, advertisement, spam.

  2. Sharon Says:

    20th century literacy involved accessing, evaluating, synthesizing information, and then communicating for varied purposes. Information was limited to that which could be accessed within the walls of a library or from knowledgeable individuals.

    21st century literacy includes online resource access, evaluation, and use.
    Students need skills, strategies, and dispositions to successfully use and adapt to info. found on Web.

  3. Jean Says:

    1) A global rather than a local perspective. An increased focus on technology.
    2) There are many — depends on which literacy you mean, of course. One, it seems, must not only be able to survive, but must be proficient at functioning in a digital world, as well as be savvy regarding information gleaned from and submitted to digital sources.

  4. jennig Says:

    The main difference is that learners expect to make something within the school day that can easily be accessed from home. Teachers expect learners to collaborate with each other, though some educators do not specifically teach these skills, learners are expected to know how to work in groups.

    To be literate in the 21st century, learners will need to be critical as the mass of information increases exponentially. Furthermore, collaboration skills will be expected in the classroom and beyond. Reading and writing will continue to be essential skills; the products will include varied media.

  5. Danielle Rottenstein Says:

    The difference between 20th vs 21st century education is the expectation and necessity for teachers to learn and teach new technologies to students due to the ever changing environment.

  6. rsevilla Says:

    I think education really needs to be re-framed and we need to move from a model that was primarily based upon the transmission of information to a richer, deeper model which includes student inquiry, project based learning and much more collaboration. Digital literacies will be imperative as the new information and communication technologies will be the foundational tools upon which our global economy will persist. Those that have the skills to access, analyze, evaluate, produce and use media and media messages will have a stronger foothold in the digital landscape. Another significant skill will be finding balance in our lives and realizing the “double-edged sword” nature of technology. The ability to unplug, unwind and be in touch with others and nature will also be imperative for many reasons.

  7. Adam Says:

    For 21st century literacies people will need skills that people did not have in the last century. First of all access to technology will be essential to keep up with the newest literacies ( access to computers, internet without hardship). People will need to be able to work through the internet quickly and without hesitation. People will need to understand language/terms and be able to keep up with the latest developments being put out into society. Learning with technology needs to be started in a child’s early years and not later in school years.

  8. Chris Says:

    21st century education will include 100 more years of history.
    21st century education includes new forms of technology to deliver material
    21st century education will require students and teachers to be proficient with these new technologies.

    One specific skill needed for 21st century literacies will be the ability to identify the useful, relevant, necessary technology/literacy from the pop, trendy, garbage forms of technology/literacies.

  9. Ryan Harrington Says:

    Differences:
    - increased pace of change
    - overall amount of information
    - availability of information
    - increase in ways to access information
    - blurring of lines between modes of delivery (print, video, audio, etc)
    - what defines someone as an “expert”

    Skills:
    - adaptability
    - finding information
    - determining authenticity/reliability of info
    - effectively dealing with the volume of information
    - communicating in new ways
    - keyboarding

  10. K Horrocks Says:

    20th century education, specifically the transfer of knowledge through written words was primarily linear and passive. One generation imparted knowledge to the next. This was an accumulative process as each new generation built upon and added to the knowledge base. But the ability to simultaneously communicate with others around the world who were also building on that knowledge base, to edit, critique, share ideas, re-think, evaluate, and get a different and new perspective beyond our own, was limited or non-existent. Essentially, learning from a past generation and handing on knowledge to the next generation was a linear and passive process. Today, we share knowledge multi-dimensionally. We can look backward, send ahead, pass along sideways out thoughts, what we know, what we think we know, what we want to know. We can get instant criticisms, advice, suggestions and ideas. We now have a limitless audience with which to share out thoughts. What skill does that require? Some knowledge of the past, some vision of the future, the ability to develop discernment, to know the difference between information and wisdom, the difference between text and words, words and ideas, worthwhile and worthless. We need to know what to dismiss, what to throw out, what to ignore and what to hang on to as a pearl of great price. We need to know how to express ourself clearly and to know what is worth expressing.

  11. Jane Says:

    The differences involve the rapid rate of change and learning that are involved with the “new technologies”.

  12. sarah b Says:

    20th century one language reading and writing. Black and white on a page and the cultural reference points. 21st, the 20th century embedded in a sea of technologies which have their own protocols.

    I think one difference may be the scope of communication. 20th century was largely person to person and you may have had feedback as to weather that person understood. 21st who speak to many at a time and need to be able to not be misunderstood.

    The skills needed are problem solving.
    Familiarity with the softwares and protocols. Knowledge of other softwares or interfaces which can get the communication across.
    Understanding a larger cultural contexts

  13. Jane Says:

    Skills involved are the ability to access, understand, analyze, synthesize, and evaluation information.

  14. Jane Says:

    Skills involved are the ability to access, understand, analyze, synthesize, and evaluation information.

    New skills include ability to navigate a computer and the internet. You need a willingness to problem solve and a level of perseverance.

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