IMLS 21st Century Skills

Learning and Innovation Skills*

• Use various types of reasoning (e.g., inductive, deductive, etc.) as appropriate to the situation

Use Systems Thinking

• Analyze how parts of a whole interact with each other to produce overall outcomes in complex systems

Make Judgments and Decisions

• Effectively analyze and evaluate evidence, arguments, claims and beliefs
• Analyze and evaluate major alternative points of view
• Synthesize and make connections between information and arguments
• Reflect critically on learning experiences and processes

Solve Problems

• Solve different kinds of non-familiar problems in both conventional and innovative ways
• Identify and ask significant questions that clarify various points of view and lead to better solutions

• Use a wide range of idea creation techniques (such as brainstorming)
• Create new and worthwhile ideas (both incremental and radical concepts)
• Elaborate, refine, analyze, and evaluate ideas in order to improve and maximize creative efforts
• Demonstrate imagination and creativity

Work Creatively with Others

• Develop, implement, and communicate new ideas to others effectively
• Be open and responsive to new and diverse perspectives; incorporate group input and feedback into the work
• Demonstrate originality and inventiveness in work and understand the real world limits to adopting new ideas
• View failure as an opportunity to learn; understand that creativity and innovation is a long-term, cyclical process of small successes and frequent mistakes

Implement Innovations

• Act on creative ideas to make a tangible and useful contribution to the field in which the innovation will occur

• Articulate thoughts and ideas effectively using oral, written, and nonverbal communication skills in a variety of forms and contexts
• Listen effectively to decipher meaning, including knowledge, values, attitudes, and intentions
• Use communication for a range of purposes (e.g., to inform, instruct, motivate, and persuade) and in diverse environments (including multi-lingual)
• Utilize multiple media and technologies, and know how to judge their effectiveness a priori as well as assess their impact

Collaborate with Others

• Demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams
• Exercise flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary compromises to accomplish a common goal
• Assume shared responsibility for collaborative work, and value the individual contributions made by each team member

• Demonstrate the ability to interpret, recognize, appreciate, and understand information presented through perceived actions, objects and symbols, natural or man-made

• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate the quality of scientific and numerical information on the basis of its sources and the methods used to generate it
• Demonstrate the capacity to pose and evaluate scientific arguments based on evidence and to apply conclusions from such arguments appropriately
• Demonstrate ability to reason with numbers and other mathematical concepts

• Apply knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and skills across disciplines in appropriate and effective ways

Information Media and Technology Skills

• Access information efficiently (time) and effectively (sources)
• Evaluate information critically and competently

Use and Manage Information

• Use information accurately and creatively for the issue or problem at hand
• Manage the flow of information from a wide variety of sources
• Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information

• Understand both how and why media messages are constructed and for what purposes
• Examine how individuals interpret messages differently, how values and points of view are included or excluded, and how media can influence beliefs and behaviors
• Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of media

Create Media Products

• Understand and utilize the most appropriate media creation tools, characteristics, and conventions
• Understand and effectively utilize the most appropriate expressions and interpretations in diverse, multi-cultural environments

• Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate, and communicate information
• Use digital technologies (e.g., computers, PDAs, media players, GPS, etc.), communication/networking tools, and social networks appropriately to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, and create information to successfully function in a knowledge economy
• Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information technologies

Life and Career Skills

• Adapt to varied roles, job responsibilities, schedules, and contexts
• Work effectively in a climate of ambiguity and changing priorities

Be Flexible

• Incorporate feedback effectively
• Deal positively with praise, setbacks, and criticism
• Understand, negotiate, and balance diverse views and beliefs to reach workable solutions, particularly in multi-cultural environments

• Set goals with tangible and intangible success criteria
• Balance tactical (short-term) and strategic (long-term) goals
• Utilize time and manage workload efficiently

Work Independently

• Monitor, define, prioritize, and complete tasks without direct oversight

Be Self-directed Learners

• Go beyond basic mastery of skills and/or curriculum to explore and expand one’s own learning and opportunities to gain expertise
• Demonstrate initiative to advance skill levels towards a professional level
• Demonstrate commitment to learning as a lifelong process
• Reflect critically on past experiences in order to inform future progress

• Know when it is appropriate to listen and when to speak
• Conduct oneself in a respectable, professional manner

Work Effectively in Diverse Teams

• Respect cultural differences and work effectively with people from a range of social and cultural backgrounds
• Respond open-mindedly to different ideas and values
• Leverage social and cultural differences to create new ideas and increase both innovation and quality of work.

• Set and meet goals, even in the face of obstacles and competing pressures
• Prioritize, plan, and manage work to achieve the intended result

Produce Results

• Demonstrate additional attributes associated with producing high quality products including the abilities to:
  • Work positively and ethically
  • Manage time and projects effectively
  • Multi-task
  • Participate actively, as well as be reliable and punctual
  • Present oneself professionally and with proper etiquette
  • Collaborate and cooperate effectively with teams
  • Respect and appreciate team diversity
  • Be accountable for results

• Use interpersonal and problem-solving skills to influence and guide others toward a goal
• Leverage strengths of others to accomplish a common goal
• Inspire others to reach their very best via example and selflessness
• Demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior in using influence and power

Be Responsible to Others

• Act responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind

21st Century Themes

• Use 21st century skills to understand and address diversity issues
• Learn from and work collaboratively with individuals representing diverse cultures, religions, and lifestyles in a spirit of mutual respect and open dialogue in personal, work, and community contexts
• Understand other nations, cultures, and languages

• Demonstrate the ability to make appropriate economic choices for your institution
• Understand the role of the economy in society
• Apply entrepreneurial skills to enhance workplace productivity and career options

• Participate effectively in civic life by knowing how to stay informed and understanding governmental processes
• Understand the local and global implications of civic decisions as they relate to your institution

• Demonstrate ecological knowledge and understanding of how natural systems work, as well as knowledge and understanding of how natural systems interface with social systems
• Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between beliefs, political systems, and environmental values of various cultures
• Demonstrate understanding of environmental issues caused as the result of human interaction with the environment, and knowledge related to alternative solutions to issues