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Building a Framework for 21st Century Literacies

"As we move forward into the 21st century, it is up to us to identify the essential elements of current multi-literacies and promote them, to address the special characteristics of each of today's media and technology, and to create the personal and institutional flexibility to change and learn as the world does."

Literacies at the End of the Twentieth Century
Rapidly changing technologies and growing diversity are dramatically reshaping how we live our lives. This is especially true in the classroom and library where most young people do not remember a time without the World Wide Web and technology has transformed the opportunities for learning. More than ever, the ability to be information literate by defining an information need, accessing and evaluating resources in multiple forms, using information effectively, and creating content is critical for full participation in society. Likewise, cultural, media and visual literacies recognize that all information is constructed within a social, political, and cultural context and thus requires interpretation, sensitivity and awareness.

As educators transition from more traditional teaching methods to those that are inquiry based, students must self-direct their own learning, cooperate with classmates from diverse backgrounds, and think critically about the abundance of information made available through technological developments. Librarians face the same challenges with users as the Internet and other electronic media become the prevalent methods by which information is accessed. Young people without a constellation of 21st century literacy skills will surely be left behind. Literacies at the End of the Twentieth Century further describes many of the literacies we encounter everyday.

This content was orignially created and posted March 5, 2002 These resources were created to support the AT&T/UCLA Initiative for the 21st Century Literacies.