21st Century Skills

In 21st century workplaces, workers
• analyze, transform, and create information
• collaborate with coworkers to solve problems and make decisions
• perform a variety of complex tasks using sophisticated technology

In 21st century homes, families
• are entertained by watching, creating, and participating in a variety of media
• make consumer decisions by looking for information on the Internet
• stay in touch with friends and family members through various technologies

In 21st century communities, citizens
• use the Internet to stay informed about local, national, and global issues
• communicate and persuade others about their opinions using different technologies
• comply with government regulations without leaving their homes

As computers take over routine tasks in the workplace, a far greater proportion of employees are engaged in tasks that require them to be flexible and creative problem solvers. Home life is also more complex in the 21st century as emerging technologies provide almost infinite possibilities for entertainment, leisure-time activities, and participation in community activities.

21st century schools must prepare learners to work in today’s workplaces, and
teachers must stay current with the ways learners and families use ICT in their daily lives.

In 21st century schools, learners
• work on complex, challenging tasks that require them to think deeply about
subject matter and manage their own learning
• collaborate with peers, teachers, and experts on meaningful tasks using higher-order thinking
• use ICT to make decisions, solve problems, and create new ideas

To help learners achieve levels of full participation in their communities, teachers must focus on the 21st century skills, listed below, that will help learners adapt to changing society and ICT:

Learning and Innovation Skills
Creativity and Innovation Skills	focuses on originality and inventiveness in work; developing, implementing and communicating new ideas to others; being open to new perspectives; acting on creative ideas
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills	requires exercising sound reasoning in understanding, making complex choices and decisions, understanding the interconnections among systems, identifying and asking significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions, framing, analyzing and synthesizing information to solve problems and answer questions
Communication and Collaboration Skills	includes articulating thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively through speaking and writing, demonstrating ability to work effectively with diverse teams, exercising flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal, assuming shared responsibility for collaborative work
Information, Media and Technology Skills
Information Literacy	requires accessing information efficiently and effectively, evaluating information critically and competently, using information accurately and creatively for the issue or problem at hand, possessing a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information
Media Literacy	requires an understanding of how media messages are constructed, for what purposes and using which tools, characteristics and conventions; examining how individuals interpret messages differently, how values and points of view are included or excluded, and how media can influence
Social Responsibility	Acting responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind; demonstrating ethical behaviour in personal, workplace, and community contextsbeliefs and behaviours; a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information
ICT Literacy	includes using digital technology, communication tools and/or networks appropriately to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, and create information in order to function in a knowledge economy; using ICT as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and ommunicate information, and the possession of a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information
Life and Career Skills
Flexibility & Adaptability	includes adapting to varied roles and responsibilities, and working effectively in a climate of ambiguity and changing priorities
Initiative & Self-Direction	includes monitoring one’s own understanding and learning needs; going beyond basic mastery of skills and/or curriculum to gain expertise; demonstrating initiative to advance skill levels towards a professional level; defining, prioritizing and completing tasks without direct oversight; utilizing time efficiently and managing workload; demonstrating commitment to learning as a lifelong process
Social & Cross-Cultural Skills	requires working appropriately and productively with others, leveraging the collective intelligence of groups when appropriate, and bridging cultural differences and using differing perspectives to increase innovation and the quality of work
Productivity & Accountability	requires setting and meeting high standards and goals for delivering quality work on time and demonstrating diligence and a positive work ethic
Leadership & Responsibility	includes using interpersonal and problem-solving skills to influence and guide others toward a goal, leveraging strengths of others to accomplish a common goal, demonstrating integrity and ethical behaviour, and acting responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind

Source: Partnership for 21st Century Skills (www.21stcenturyskills.org). Used with permission.

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