21st Century Skills

SolutionFluency

InformationFluency

CollaborationFluency

CreativityFluency

MediaFluency

DigitalCitizen

To prepare students for the 21st century six fluencies have been identified as the essential skills necessary for kids to learn in addition to the traditional three R’s of reading, writing and arithmetic.

These essential skills are called fluencies to describe the level of proficiency and comfort that makes it unconscious and automatic.

To understand how these 21st century skills can be attained, each of these fluencies will be described in the context of a detailed example.

In an environmental science class student pairs were asked to select a controversial topic of choice related to the environment, research the topic, choose a stance on the topic, and present their finding to the class in a creative way. One student pair chose the idea of global warming.

Solution Fluency

Describes the “just in time” learning that involves…

• Whole-Brain Thinking• Problem Solving• Creativity

Example

The students were presented with the challenge of learning about global warming. They must solve the problem creatively in real time by designing an appropriate solution, applying the solution in a creative way, and evaluating the process and outcome. Their success with this challenge will determine the depth of their learning and their grade.

Information FluencyAbility to access digital information to find the

desired information• Surfing and searching skills• Ability to use a wide variety of information

sources• Ability to use a wide variety of digital devices• Know where to retrieve information in various

mediums, including text, images, sound and video.

Information FluencyAbility to critically evaluate the data found• Find significant information• Assess the significance of information• Discover bias in the information retrieved• Access the accuracy of data found

Example

When learning about the idea of global warming, the students had the ability to access digital information endlessly. They used their computers, Ipods, Ipads, and cell phones to access information in the form of text, images, sound and video. They found videos on You Tube, documentaries on the Discovery Channel, and even communicated with researchers at the University of Alaska- Fairbanks through the use of live video technology. The students needed to weed through the information to find what was significant, accurate, and necessary to support their topic.

Collaboration Fluency

• Ability to work cooperatively with virtual and real partners in an online environment to create original digital products.

• Interacting with people all over the world with electronic and wireless communication technology.

Example

The students decided to present their findings by creating their own documentary on the topic of global warming. They worked collaboratively in every aspect of the project, in person as well as online, as they communicated between themselves and with the researchers from afar.

Creativity Fluency

• The process by which artistic proficiency adds meaning through design, art, and storytelling.

• Regards form, function, and the principles of innovative design.

• Artistic creation of quality, functioning products.

Example

The pair’s creative use of design, art and storytelling have added to the meaning of the story, created interest by the audience, and resulted in a quality documentary on the topic of global warming.

Media Fluency

Ability to look analytically at any communication media to…

• interpret the real message• determine how the media is being used to

shape thinking• evaluate the efficacy of the message

Media Fluency

Ability to create and publish original digital products.

• Determine the most appropriate and effective media for your message.

• Convey ideas in a variety of media

ExampleThe student pair chose a documentary form to reflect

their understanding of the topic of global warming. In developing their documentary they developed technical skills and skills in graphic design. They chose this form of presentation because they thought it would be the most effective method to convey their message and shape the thinking of their audience.

The students publish their documentary to their class blog where fellow students and teachers, and maybe the entire world, can view and provide immediate feedback.

Digital Citizen

When using digital media one needs to have…

• Personal responsibility• Accountability• Consistency in personality• Ethics• Environmental awareness• Global citizenship

Example

In completing this in depth assignment both students demonstrated that they were digital citizens through their ethical use of technology, by being accountable and responsible for their learning, and for the product they produced and published.

Though I have only given one in depth example of how the 6 fluencies can be attained through a classroom assignment, nearly any assignment that offers choice, collaboration, research, creation and publishing of digital products will result in the development of one or more of the 6 essential skills outlined in this power point presentation.

Information about the 6 fluencies came from Understanding the Digital Generation by Ian Jukes, Ted McCain, and Lee Crockett

Power point created by Jennifer Nelson

21st Century Skills

SolutionFluency

InformationFluency

CollaborationFluency

CreativityFluency

MediaFluency

DigitalCitizen