We take in more visual information than ever. The ability to comprehend – and to create – videos, photos, infographics, and other visuals has become essential for daily life and career success.

Online video games have been linked to above average scores in math, reading, and science, and some schools use games like Minecraft and SimCity to help kids develop fine motor skills, better navigation abilities, and problem-solving strategies. Gamification is on the rise, and students with this fluency will level up faster.

This literacy means understanding your rights and responsibilities as a citizen and being aware of opportunities & pathways for involvement and it gets at the subtleties – what do you do when core values conflict? It empowers people to participate and initiate change. 

No, not every kid will grow up to become a computer programmer, but each can benefit from learning to think about how a computer could help solve a problem – like how to unearth fire hydrants more efficiently after a snowfall (hint: write an app!). The ability to dream up a solution is just as valuable as the ability to code it.        

Media creation and consumption is changing at a rapid pace. Someone who is “media literate” can adapt to new communication formats – whether that’s instant messaging, push notifications, wikis, online communities, blogs, or vlogs – and knows how to choose the most effective medium for communication in any given situation.

With the right tools and training, it’s easier than ever for students, parents, teachers, school leaders, and school partners to make informed decisions. Whether this looks like a student taking charge of her own growth or a teacher pinpointing specific skills his students need to enhance, data literacy could lead to a sea change in education. 

No two literacies go hand-in-hand quite like these two. A strong financial position makes it easier to make healthy choices, and good health makes it possible to do the hard work necessary for financial stability. When it comes to health and financial literacy, simple rules of thumb (“spend less than you earn”) and just-in-time learning (a financial aid workshop for high school seniors) have a big impact.

A little skepticism goes a long way. We learn the difference between fact and fiction at a young age, but in the digital world, it’s hard even for adults to be confident about what to believe. Rich news literacy learning experiences should be available to students throughout K-12, helping them learn not only how to find and read the news, but also how to think about it and evaluate it.

This is literacy as you might traditionally understand it: reading, writing, and meaning-making. No matter how far we stretch the definition of literacy, these foundational skills – particularly those gained in the early years – are still the building blocks upon which other skills can develop.