The Six Basic Skills of the The Six Basic Skills of the 2121stst Century Century

Created by Meredith VollmerCreated by Meredith Vollmer

Resource:Resource: Understanding the Digital GenerationUnderstanding the Digital Generation

By Ian Jukes, Ted McCain and Lee Crockett; 2010.By Ian Jukes, Ted McCain and Lee Crockett; 2010.

Intro to the Six SkillsIntro to the Six Skills

• Solution FluencySolution Fluency

• Information FluencyInformation Fluency

• Collaboration FluencyCollaboration Fluency

• Creativity FluencyCreativity Fluency

• Media FluencyMedia Fluency

• Digital CitizenDigital Citizen

*These are essential skills that are needed in *These are essential skills that are needed in orderorder

to be successful in the 21to be successful in the 21stst century. century.

Solution FluencySolution Fluency

Description:Description:

• Whole-brain Whole-brain thinkingthinking

• Creativity Creativity

• Problem solvingProblem solving

• Creating and Creating and solving the solving the problemsproblems

Solution Fluency Cont’d: Solution Fluency Cont’d:

Examples:Examples:*The 4D problem solving *The 4D problem solving process is a great example process is a great example

of Solution Fluency. of Solution Fluency. Defining a problem, Defining a problem,

designing a solution, doing designing a solution, doing the work and debriefing the work and debriefing

the outcome.the outcome.*A real life example would be *A real life example would be

a solution to fixing the oil a solution to fixing the oil spill in the golf or ways to spill in the golf or ways to help stop the spread of oil help stop the spread of oil

and help the habitats and help the habitats affected.affected.

Information FluencyInformation Fluency

Description:Description:• Ability to access Ability to access information digitallyinformation digitally

• Retrieve necessary Retrieve necessary information digitallyinformation digitally• Knowing when to Knowing when to use various sourcesuse various sources

• Effectively assess Effectively assess information information retrievedretrieved

Information Fluency Cont’dInformation Fluency Cont’d

Examples:Examples:*Finding significant and *Finding significant and relevant information that relevant information that

pertains to problem.pertains to problem.*When conducting research, *When conducting research,

using digital sources that using digital sources that are appropriate for the are appropriate for the

task at hand; such task at hand; such as .org, .edu and .gov as .org, .edu and .gov

sources vs. Facebook or sources vs. Facebook or Wikipedia.Wikipedia.

*Using a variety of digital *Using a variety of digital sources to reach desired sources to reach desired

objective.objective.

Collaboration FluencyCollaboration Fluency

Description:Description:• Teamwork Teamwork

proficiencyproficiency• Ability to work with Ability to work with

virtual and real virtual and real peoplepeople

• Ability to work with Ability to work with others in an online others in an online

environmentenvironment• Social NetworkingSocial Networking

Collaboration Fluency Collaboration Fluency Cont’dCont’d

Examples:Examples:

*Working collaboratively *Working collaboratively in groups to solve in groups to solve

problems.problems.

*Working with others *Working with others from another part of from another part of

the country on a given the country on a given task.task.

*Taking an online course.*Taking an online course.

Creativity FluencyCreativity Fluency

Description:Description:• Using design, art Using design, art

and storytelling to and storytelling to show meaningshow meaning

• Artistic proficiencyArtistic proficiency• Form and functionForm and function• Innovative designInnovative design

• High quality High quality functioning productfunctioning product

Creativity Fluency Cont’dCreativity Fluency Cont’d

Examples:Examples:

*Using creativity to come *Using creativity to come up with creative up with creative

solutions.solutions.

*Not simply creating *Not simply creating stories but using stories but using creativity to solve creativity to solve

problems.problems.

*Using creativity to solve *Using creativity to solve problems such as problems such as

global warming issues.global warming issues.

Media FluencyMedia Fluency

Description:Description:

• Ability to interpret Ability to interpret message from any mediamessage from any media

• Determine how media is Determine how media is used to cultivate thinkingused to cultivate thinking

• Evaluate the importance Evaluate the importance of the messageof the message

• Ability to create original Ability to create original digital productsdigital products

Media Fluency Cont’dMedia Fluency Cont’d

Examples:Examples:*Using digital media effectively *Using digital media effectively

and then publishing for public and then publishing for public view.view.

*Challenge learners to show their *Challenge learners to show their understanding through various understanding through various digital media in which they can digital media in which they can publish for others to see such publish for others to see such as Voice Threads or You Tube.as Voice Threads or You Tube.

*Allow learners to demonstrate *Allow learners to demonstrate writing and media expertise in writing and media expertise in

daily instruction.daily instruction.*Allow learners to experience and *Allow learners to experience and

use various media to use various media to communicate messages and communicate messages and

ideas.ideas.

Digital CitizenDigital Citizen

Description:Description:• Using principles of Using principles of

leadership, ethics, leadership, ethics, accountability, accountability, responsibility, responsibility,

environmental awareness, environmental awareness, and global citizenshipand global citizenship

• Consistency in personalityConsistency in personality• Understanding people they Understanding people they

encounter digitally may not encounter digitally may not be who they say they arebe who they say they are

Digital Citizen Cont’dDigital Citizen Cont’d

Examples:Examples:*Many relationships of today *Many relationships of today

begin digitally, make sure begin digitally, make sure you portray yourself you portray yourself

consistently with who you consistently with who you are in person.are in person.

*Protecting minors from *Protecting minors from digital predators.digital predators.

*Making learners aware of *Making learners aware of those that use the digital those that use the digital

worlds for financial gain or worlds for financial gain or other criminal activity.other criminal activity.

*Making learners aware of *Making learners aware of cyberbullying cyberbullying

Closure:Closure:

• 2121stst Century Skills are not about the lack of Century Skills are not about the lack of technology, but instead are about how to technology, but instead are about how to properly use and incorporate it into properly use and incorporate it into instructioninstruction

• These skills encompass critical thinking, These skills encompass critical thinking, problem solving, processing, and creativity problem solving, processing, and creativity skills that will allow students of today to be skills that will allow students of today to be better prepared for their futuresbetter prepared for their futures

• Instructors need to start implementing these Instructors need to start implementing these skills into their everyday instruction or else skills into their everyday instruction or else students will not be ready for the skills students will not be ready for the skills needed in the job markets of the 21needed in the job markets of the 21stst century century