Information, Media and Technology Skills

People in the 21st century live in a technology and media-suffused environment, marked by various characteristics, including:

  • 1) access to an abundance of information
  • 2) rapid changes in technology tools
  • 3) the ability to collaborate and make individual contributions on an unprecedented scale


To be effective in the 21st century, citizens and workers must be able to exhibit a range of functional and critical thinking skills related to information, media and technology.


Information Literacy


Access and Evaluate Information

  • 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

Media Literacy


Analyze Media

  • 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

ICT (Information, Communications & Technology) Literacy


Apply Technology Effectively

  • Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information
  • Use digital technologies (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

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


Read more about information, media and technology skills below. In addition to the skills you gain in the classroom, there are many ways that you can obtain information, media and technology skills outside of the classroom. Some of these ways include:





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