Multiple literacies and self-regulation to prepare effective lifelong learners

The increasingly rich and diverse landscape of technological tools employed in any field of human activity entails that prospective users acquire the necessary competence to both deal with new tools and to exploit their potential. As a consequence, education can no longer be focused on fostering the acquisition of content knowledge, but needs to prepare people in this respect. Research can provide effective support to this end, by informing the development of multiple literacies and of self-regulation skills. Multiple literacies include complementary areas such as digital literacy, media literacy and social media literacy; they concern the skills to successfully deal with the different kinds of information that is put into play by the pervasive presence of diverse technology in our life. Self-regulation, on the other hand, entails for learners to become aware on one's own objectives, needs and achievements, as well as to act strategically, adapting old competence to new problems. This presentation will characterize in details multiple literacies and self-regulated learning, showing why and how they should become part of formal education at any level and discussing how they can improve current education by contributing to prepare effective life-long learners.