Literacy in the 21st Century 29 th September 2011 Dr. Alison Cross, Executive Director, Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning

Our Vision An educated, knowledge-based, adult population empowered through lifelong learning opportunities to take responsibility for their lives and contribute positively to the social moral and economic development of the country.

Our Mission To provide in partnership with other organizations, adult education programmes which will establish a culture of lifelong learning that will empower individuals and contribute to national development.

Vision 2030 – National Goals Jamaicans are empowered to achieve their fullest potential. The Jamaican Society is safe, cohesive and just. Jamaica’s economy is prosperous. Jamaica has a healthy, natural environment.

Vision 2030 – Guiding Principles Transformational Leadership Accountability and Transparency Partnership Social Cohesion Equity Sustainability Urban/Rural Development

Workplace Literacy Facts: Technological developments are occurring faster than we dreamed, dramatically altering the way we work. Developed nations are relying more and more on their capacity to innovate to drive economic growth. The ability to do this depends upon the skills and knowledge of their people.

Workplace Literacy Facts: The 21st C is a Knowledge Economy. In the 21st Century, our natural resource is our people – and their potential is both untapped and vast. Literacy and Skills will unlock that potential. The benefits – higher productivity, the creation of wealth and social justice.

Workplace Literacy Facts: How is Jamaica placed to respond to this challenge? Jamaica must become a world leader in literacy and skills development. Literacy is the most important lever within our control to create wealth and to reduce social deprivation. How do we deliver better on what we have rather than trying to invent many more new structures

Where are we coming from with “literacy” in Jamaica? The media characterize “illiteracy” as a crippling limitation, a barrier to individual and social advancement and as a problem to be fixed. There is substantial research to suggest that “literacy” is very complex. Low literacy proficiency is prevalent with many Jamaicans suffering from sufficient difficulty in reading or computation to be challenged by the ordinary tasks of everyday life and work.

Theoretical perspectives on literacy to assess current policy and impact on programmes School-based literacy – the view is that skills and competencies assessed in the classroom are directly transferable to other contexts. Consequently, school-based literacy assumes that once literacy skills are mastered in the classroom, learners can apply the skills in any reading task whether that is in the workplace, the home, or any other settings of public and private life.

A Working Definition of Literacy – a Competency/Functional Based Model Literacy is more than just being able to code and decode text—it is the ability to comprehend, interpret, analyze, respond, and interact within the variety of complex situations in which youth and adults encounter various kinds of information. Each context—school, work, military, civic and family—requires a different kind of literacy competency .

Jamaica’s current environment In many of our schools less than 50% of the Grade 11 population sit CSEC exit exams and the pass rate for Math and English is below 40% (Holness, Back to School Message 2011) Our 2008-2009 Grade 9 Achievement Exam National Avg Language 52%, Math 43% Our 2008-2009 Grade 6 Achievement Test National Avg Language 57%, Math 53% (MOE Ed. Stats. 2009-2010)

Jamaica’s current environment The 21st C economy is knowledge based. Workers must have the ability to adapt, learn and master new skills quickly and efficiently. Literacy is a set of skills that reflect the needs of the time. As those needs shift, then our definition of literacy shift.

21st C Skills Framework WE MUST FUSE THE THREE “R”s WITH THE FOUR “C”s. Critical thinking and problem solving Communication Collaboration Creativity and innovation The four “C”s are a student’s ticket up the economic ladder in the 21st century (Partnership for 20th C Skills, 2010)

Changes in Literacy Demands : The magnitude of our competition is changing. We need to improve our ability to competitively participate within the global community. Workplace demands are changing. Student experience outside of the school day is ever changing. We need many more of our students to become effective 21st Century Citizens with lifelong teaching and learning skills.

Changes in Literacy Demands : Requirements For Work Force Are Changing Accountant: My Grandfather “did the books” Must handle complex computer programmes Research: I used the Library to conduct “research” for my Undergrad studies All learners from Primary to Tertiary use the internet. Doctors Used to “tell’ you what was wrong with you Engage with you in a discussion based on the information you have already obtained from the internet Banking Used to interact face-2-face for every interaction Use machines for most banking transactions

20th Century Education Model

21st Century Learning Model (21st Century Partnership Learning Framework) The Framework for 21st Century Learning describes the skills, knowledge and expertise students must master to succeed in work and life.

Changes in Literacy Demands : 21st Century Skills/Literacy Framework Learning & Innovation Skills Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Creativity & Innovation Communication & Collaboration

Changes in Literacy Demands : 21st Century Skills/Literacy Framework Information, Media & Technology Skills Information Literacy Media Literacy ICT (Information, Communications & Technology) Literacy

Changes in Literacy Demands : 21st Century Skills/Literacy Framework Life & Career Skills Flexibility & Adaptability Initiative & Self-Direction Social & Cross-Cultural Skills Productivity & Accountability Leadership & Responsibility

Changes in Literacy Demands : 21st Century Skills/Literacy Framework ICT LITERACY Learners should be able to: Apply technology effectively Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information. Use digital technologies, communication/ networking tools and social networks appropriately to access, manage, integrate, evaluate and create information in order to successfully function is a knowledge society.

Information Literacy 5 years ago: information has doubled Accessing information efficiently and effectively, evaluating information critically and competently and using information accurately and creatively for the issue or problem at hand: 5 years ago: information has doubled 2 years ago: technical information has doubled 1 hour ago: electronic information has doubled (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2007)

Media or Critical Literacy Understanding how media messages are constructed, for what purposes and using which tools, characteristics and conventions. Examining how individuals interpret messages differently, how values and points of view are included or excluded and how media can influence beliefs and behaviors. Possessing a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information

Literacy in the 20th C Every Student Must be: Able to read and write Time on Task Standardization of teaching, learning & assessment Transmission of knowledge Over-emphasis on control Building learning from the part to the whole Lack of attention to diversity, individual differences, socialization, and collaboration Narrow view of effectiveness and efficiency

Literacy in the 21st C Every Student Must be: A critical thinker A problem solver An Innovator An effective communicator An effective collaborator A self-directed learner Information and media literate Globally aware Civically engaged Financially and economically literate

A Shift from Skills only to Connecting Learners to our World Literacy…in the 21st C A Major Shift away from Teacher- Centered to Child-Centered Constructivist Theory A Major Shift from Individualism to Collaboration Social Learning Theory A Shift from Skills only to Connecting Learners to our World Global Awareness Technology and Media Literacy Civic Literacy Financial and Economic Literacy Environmental Literacy Information Literacy Critical Literacy

Purposes of Literacy “Reading the word…. …. and the world”

But those who cannot learn, unlearn and re-learn Purposes of Literacy The “illiterate” of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write But those who cannot learn, unlearn and re-learn Alvin Toffler

Productivity Enhancement through Literacies Workplace Literacy: Lifelong Learning Environments Focus on Continuous and Comprehensive on-the- job and relevant learning Learning for All Collaborative Learning Dynamic and Flexible Learning Environments

We must begin a new journey to embed a culture of learning….. What will this look like in the workplace???

JFLL Market / Impact Opportunity Impact indicators Unattached youth 127,000 (STATIN – 2008) Youth need basic and secondary education and life skills Employability/ Employment Ready for skills training GDP / productivity Crime & Violence Literacy challenged adults Workers with higher literacy levels impact productivity positively Parents with higher literacies make better educational , health and business decisions Improved employment Income tax revenue Poverty reduction Empowered citizens Child Education Performance Improved health care Workplace 70% of labour force (700,000+) have no formal training / certification (STATIN) 20% of labour force (200,000) are estimated to be “functionally illiterate” GDP / Productivity Workplace safety (OSHA) Investment

Literacy in the 21st Century What Does This Mean for …. YOU?

References www.21stcenturyskills.org MOE Educational Statistics 2009-2010