21st+century+skills+for+21st+century+learners

= = =**21st Century Skills for 21st Century Learners**= = Summary =

Our children live in a global, digital world – a world transformed by technology and human ingenuity. Many of today’s youngsters are comfortable using laptops, instant messaging, chat rooms, and cell phones to connect to friends, family, and experts in local communities and around the globe. Given the rapid pace of change, the vast amount of information to be managed, and the influence of technology on life in general, students need to acquire different, evolving skill sets to cope and to thrive in the changing society. Technology literacy is becoming a core foundation for learning in the 21st century. The enGauge 21st Century Skills go a step further. Advances in cognitive sciences show that learning increases significantly when students are engaged in academic study through authentic, real-world experiences. The enGauge 21 Century Skills build on extensive bodies of research – as well as on calls from government, business, and industry for higher levels of workplace readiness – to define clearly what students need to thrive in today’s Digital Age. The enGauge Century Skills study identifies four skills that contribute to academic achievement and the success of students in the future: Digital Age Literacy Basic, scientific, economic, and technological literacies. Visual and information literacies Multicultural literacy and global awareness Inventive Thinking Adaptability, managing complexity, and self-direction Curiosity, creativity, and risk taking Higher-order thinking and sound reasoning Effective Communication Teaming, collaboration, and interpersonal skills Personal, social, and civic responsibility Interactive communication High Productivity Prioritizing, planning and managing for results Effective use of real-world tools Ability to produce relevant, high-quality products