21st Century Fluencies.

Ever read about 21st Century Fluencies? This is one area that I recommend all teachers investigate when they start working with me.

So, what is the 21st Century Fluency Project? Developed by Lee Crockett, Ian Jukes and Andrew Churches, this project "helps teachers instil values in their students that guide them towards creating a better world for themselves and for others."

With a changing education landscape, the skills that we are trying to develop in our students are also changing. And, of some of us teachers, we need to learn them too! These should be taught to across all years and across all year levels by all teachers.

The skills are broken down into 5 main fluencies:

1. Solution Fluency: In the past, students have been taught to solve problems in a show and tell manner (we show students the problem, and tell them how we got the answer), which has lead them to be dependent on us, rather than discovering it for themselves. However, we must begin to teach students to use their creativity to solve problems in real time.

2. Information Fluency: We live in an information abundant world, so we need to know how to access relevant information quickly and easily, analyse it for it's credibility and apply the knowledge to the situation at hand.

3. Creativity Fluency: This fluency refers to how artistic proficiency can add meaning through design, art, and storytelling.

4. Media Fluency: With communication moving beyond text, there is a need to be able to create media in a variety of different ways. There is also the need to be able to critically evaluate media for its message and desired outcome.

5. Collaboration Fluency: Learning in today’s digital world involves working with others. In today's digital world, there is now the ability to successfully work and interact with virtual and real partners.

This is encompassed by the idea that we want our students to become Global Digital Citizens, where they act responsibly in a real and online world, they show awareness of local and world events, protect themselves and have respect for the environment.

Want to know more? Explore https://globaldigitalcitizen.org

Technology integration is based on a lot of research and case studies. The main models that I like to  keep in mind when working with teachers are listed below.

 TPACK

The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) conceptual framework was created by Mishra and Koehler and describes the use of ICT in learning and for professional work. 

The framework is represented in a venn diagram and highlights the idea that using ICT in the classroom must have a sound curriculum fit and meet the pedagogical ideas of the teacher.  

21st Century Fluencies 

21st Century Fluencies is a set of skills identified as crucial for our students to succeed when they graduate in todays ever changing world. 

They comprise of the following:

Solution Fluency is the ability to think creatively to solve problems in real tim, by clearly defining the problem, designing an appropriate solution, delivering the solution and then evaluating the process and the outcome. 

Information Fluency is the ability to unconsciously and intuitively interpret information in all forms and formats.

Creativity Fluency is the process by which artistic proficiency adds meaning through design, art, and storytelling.

Collaboration Fluency is the ability to work cooperatively with virtual and real partners in an online environment to solve problems and create original products.

Media Fluency is the ability to look analytically at any communication to interpret the real message, as well as being able to create original communications though the most appropriate and effective medium.

Chck out more information here: 21st Century Fluencies

SAMR

The SAMR model describes four levels of technology integration that increase in complexity and effect, from simple substitution which barely changes the function, to a more complex redefinition where the technology use can provide opportunities to create what would not be possible without that technology

Australian Curriculum- General Capabilities. 

If we look at the main ideas in the Australian Curriculum General Capabilities we need to focus on Investigating , Creating and Communicating.  These skills are broad and can be taught in any context. As an overarching goal we need to make sure that the students are making Ethical decisions and looking at good digital citizenship content can help guide students to work ethically online.