enGauge 21st Century Skills

As society changes, the skills needed to deal with the complexities of life also change. Information and communication technologies literacy is defined as the ability to use “digital technology, communications tools, and/or networks to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, and create information in order to function in a knowledge society”

Experts agree that as technology becomes more prevalent in our everyday lives, cognitive skills become increasingly critical. “In effect, because technology makes the simple tasks easier, it places a greater burden on higher-level skills”

According to the 21st Century Literacy Summit (2002), “Information and communications technologies are raising the bar on the competencies needed to succeed in the 21st century”(p. 4). Both researchers and the business community agree: Effective communication skills are essential for success in today’s knowledgebased society.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor (1999), “We are living in a new economy—powered by technology, fueled by information, and driven by knowledge” (p. 1). Though not yet a high-stakes focus of schools, these skills often determine whether a person succeeds or fails in today’s workforce.