On April 26-28, 2005, a group of leading authors, researchers, policy
makers, educators, and artists from around the world met in San Jose to discuss recent developmetns in the areas of visual, aural and digital literacy. Their report, titled A Global Imperative: Report of the 21st Century Literacy A Global Imperative contains an excellent summary of the discussions, and points to some important issues for all of us involved in education in the 21st century.

The main point is summarised in the working definition the group came up with for 21st century literacy:

“21st century literacy is the set of abilities and skills where aural, visual and digital literacy overlap. These include the ability to understand the power of images and sounds, to recognize and use that power, to manipulate and transform digital media, to distribute them pervasively, and to easily adapt them to new forms.”