INQUIRY COMPETENCIES - 21st CENTURY SKILLS
LEARNING AND Critical Thinking and
INNOVATION SKILLS Problem Solving
Learning and innovation Critical thinking is
skills increasingly are focused, careful
being recognized as the analysis of something to
skills that separate better understand it.
students who are When people speak of
prepared for increasingly “left brain” activity, they
complex life and work are usually referring to
environments in the 21st critical thinking.
century, and those who
are not.
A focus on creativity,
critical thinking,
communication and
collaboration is essential Creativity and
to prepare students for Innovation
the future.
Creative thinking is
expansive, open-ended
invention and discovery
of possibilities. When
people speak of “right
brain” activity, they most
often mean creative
thinking.
Communication
Communication
competence involves
mediated and digital
communication,
interpersonal, written
and oral communication.
Collaboration
Working together for a
common goal.
Reason Use various types of reasoning (inductive, deductive, etc.) as appropriate to the situation
Effectively
Use Systems Analyze how parts of a whole interact with each other to produce overall outcomes in complex
Thinking systems
Make Judgments Effectively analyze and evaluate evidence, arguments, claims and beliefs
and Decisions Analyze and evaluate major alternative points of view
Synthesize and make connections between information and arguments
Interpret information and draw conclusions based on the best analysis
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
Think Creatively 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 their own ideas in order to improve and maximize creative
efforts
Work Creatively Develop, implement and communicate new ideas to others effectively
with Others 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 Act on creative ideas to make a tangible and useful contribution to the field in which the innovation will
Innovations occur
Communicate Articulate thoughts and ideas effectively using oral, written and nonverbal communication skills in a
Clearly 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)
Utilize multiple media and technologies, and know how to judge their effectiveness as well as assess
their impact
Communicate effectively in diverse environments (including multi-lingual)
Collaborate with Demonstrate ability to work effectively and respectfully with diverse teams
Others Exercise flexibility and willingness to be helpful in making necessary compromises to accomplish a
common goal
Assume shared responsibility for collaborative work, and value individual contributions made by team
members
INFORMATION, Information Literacy Access and Access information efficiently (time) and effectively (sources)
MEDIA, Evaluate Evaluate information critically and competently
TECHNOLOGY Information literacy Information
LITERACY involves traditional
skills such as reading, Use and Use information accurately and creatively for the issue or problem at hand
Today we live in a researching, and Manage Manage the flow of information from a wide variety of sources
technology and writing; but new ways Information Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and
media-suffused to read and write use of information
environment with: 1) have also introduced
access to an new skills:
abundance of Consuming
information, 2) rapid information and
changes in technology Producing information
tools, and 3) the ability
to collaborate and Media Literacy Analyze Media Understand both how and why media messages are constructed, and for what purposes
make individual Examine how individuals interpret messages differently, how values and points of view are
contributions on an Media literacy included or excluded, and how media can influence beliefs and behaviors
unprecedented scale. involves Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and
To be effective in the understanding the use of media
21st century, citizens many ways that
and workers must be information is Create Media Understand and utilize the most appropriate media creation tools, characteristics and
able to create, produced and Products conventions
evaluate, and distributed. Understand and effectively utilize the most appropriate expressions and interpretations in
effectively utilize diverse, multi-cultural environments
information, media,
and technology. Technology Literacy Apply Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information
Technology Use digital technologies (computers, PDAs, media players, GPS, etc.),
Technology Literacy Effectively communication/networking tools and social networks appropriately to access, manage,
involves integrate, evaluate and create information to successfully function in a knowledge economy
understanding how to Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and
evaluate this new use of information technologies
information and how
to use these new Expectations of Freedom to express their views, personalities, and identities
tools to create Technology Ability to customize and personalize technology to their own tastes
effective, Ability to dig deeper, finding whatever information they want
well-grounded Honesty in interactions with others and with organizations
communication. Fun to be part of learning, work, and socialization as well as entertainment
Students can harness Connecting to others and collaborating in everything
the power of new Speed and responsiveness in communication and searching for answers
technology and be Innovation and change, not settling for familiar technologies but seeking and using what is
inspired to learn. new and better
 LIFE AND CAREER Flexibility and Adaptability
SKILLS
Students need to learn to
Today’s life and work quickly analyze what is
environments require going on around them and
far more than make adjustments on the
thinking skills and fly—all the while keeping
content knowledge. their goals at the forefront.
The ability to
navigate the complex Initiative and Self-Direction
life and work
environments in the Students need to learn how
globally competitive to set goals for themselves,
information age plan how they will reach
requires students to their goals, and enact their
pay rigorous attention plans. Students feel
to developing comfortable with charting
adequate life and their own course.
career skills. Life
skills equip students
to thrive in the Social and Cross-Cultural
classroom and in the Skills
world beyond.
As work environments
become more collaborative,
social skills are key.
Productivity and
Accountability
By using the inquiry process
and developing projects,
students learn the habits of
productivity.
Leadership and
Responsibility
Leadership is a suite of
related skills that combines
the other life skills.
http://www.p21.org
https://k12.thoughtfullearning.com/FAQ/what-are-learning-skills
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
Adapt to Change Adapt to varied roles, jobs responsibilities, schedules and context
Work effectively in a climate of ambiguity and changing priorities
Manage Goals Set goals with tangible and intangible success criteria, Utilize time and manage workload efficiently
and Time Balance tactical (short-term) and strategic (long-term) goals
Work Monitor, define, prioritize and complete tasks without direct oversight
Independently
Be Self-Directed Go beyond basic mastery of skills and/or curriculum to explore and expand one’s own learning and
Learners opportunities to gain expertise, Demonstrate initiative to advance skills towards a professional level
Demonstrate belief that learning is a lifelong process, Reflect on past experience to inform future
progress
Interact Know when it is appropriate to listen and when to speak
Effectively with Conduct themselves in a respectable, professional manner
Others
Work Effectively Respect cultural differences and work effectively with people from a range of social and cultural
in Diverse backgrounds
Teams Respond open-mindedly to different ideas and values
Leverage social and cultural differences to create new ideas and increase innovation and work quality
Manage Projects Set and meet goals, even in the face of obstacles and competing pressure
Prioritize, plan and manage work to achieve the intended result
Produce Results Demonstrate additional attributes associated with producing high quality products including:
Work positively and ethically, Manage time and projects effectively, Multi-task, Be accountable
Participate actively, be reliable and punctual, Present oneself professionally and with proper etiquette
Collaborate and cooperate effectively with teams, Respect and appreciate team diversity
Guide and Lead Use interpersonal and problem-solving skills to influence and guide others toward a goal
Others 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 Act responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind
to Others