What does it mean to be literate in the 21st century? Is it about giving students books and providing them with time for silent, sustained, reading? Sure. Is it about teaching them the parts of speech and having them diagram sentences? Certainly.

But if that’s where we stop, then we’re missing the boat on what being literate in the 21st century truly encompasses.

David Warlick (blog, wiki) made a presentation on this subject at our PWCS Technology Conference in August. He writes, “Being literate in the future will certainly involve the ability to read, write, and do basic math. However, the concept of literacy in the 21st century will be far richer and more comprehensive than the 3 Rs of the one room school house, a legacy that still strongly influences today’s education environment.”

And he asks the following questions:

• What do you need to know, when most of recorded knowledge is a mouse-click away?
• How do you distinguish between good knowledge and bad knowledge?
• What does it do to the value of information, when everyone is a producer?
• How do we address ethics, when we are empowering our students with such prevailing skills?

His slideshow on the subject:

[slideshare id=31186&doc=literacy-learning-in-the-21st-century-14085&w=425]

And on a final note…
Download Video: Posted by mjohnson at TeacherTube.com.