The Evolving Definition of Literacy
The definition of literacy has evolved over the last century. Most dictionaries define literacy as the ability to read and write. Today the definition has been expanded. Many now consider literacy to be the ability to locate, evaluate, use, and communicate using a wide range of resources including text, visual, audio, and video sources.
Literacy and the Teacher Librarian
Literacy learning plays a central role in the school library media center. Teacher librarians must be prepared to address the interests and needs of a diverse student population. With today's high-stakes testing, information literacy is essential.
Social and technological changes impact our understanding of literacy. Our challenge is to prepare our children for the new literacies of the future.
New Literacies
Over the past few decades many "new literacies" have been identified. For instance, NCREL's enGauge (2003) identify eight Digital Age categories: Basic Literacy, Scientific Literacy, Economic Literacy, Technological Literacy, Visual Literacy, Information Literacy, Multicultural Literacy, and Global Awareness.
Along with information and technology related literacies, many people have focused on other categories of literacy such as communication literacy, productivity literacy, content literacy, and critical literacy.
Not everyone agrees on the need to distinguish these new literacies. For example, some people interpret it as way to justify teacher librarians or a "new subject" that will be a burden to teachers.
Read Key Word: Literacy in THE BLUE BOOK by Callison and Preddy (p. 421-424).
Read Chapter 3: Literacy Learning in the Elementary School: Implications for School Library Media Specialists by Donna M. Shannon in Curriculum Connections through the Library edited by Barbara K. Stripling & Sandra Hughes-Hassell.
Read Chapter 4: Promoting Young Adult Literacy: A Role for School Library Media Specialists by Sandra Hughes-Hassell in Curriculum Connections through the Library edited by Barbara K. Stripling & Sandra Hughes-Hassell.
Read enGauge 21st Century Skills: Literacy in the Digital Age (2003) from NCREL (North Central Regional Educational Laboratory). According to the authors, this publication represents an important first step toward Digital Age readiness. Readers are invited to use the enGauge 21st Century Skills as a platform for the shifts in school policy and practices necessary to give our students the education they require in a knowledge-based, global society. How do you view the relationship among all of these literacies?
Skim 21st Century Literacies. These include information, media, multicultural, and visual components.
Read Twenty-first Century Literacy and Technology in K-8 Classrooms
by June Brown, Jan Bryan, and Ted Brown in Innovate (Vol 1, issue 3, Feb/March 2005). You'll need to register to access the article.
Read Information Literacy Makes All the Wrong Assumptions by Stanley Wilder (The Chronicle Review, Jan 2005). Do you agree or disagree with his position? Why? (IUPUI password required)
Lamb's Latitudes
When I used to hear the word illiterate, I thought of adults who couldn't read to their children, interpret street signs, or write their name. However my definition has evolved over the past decade. Today's global, technology-rich world demand citizens who can not only read and write, but also recognize the difference between a legitimate weight loss program and a money-making info-merical. They need be able to make informed choices about political candidates with different perspectives on international policy. Literacy isn't format specific, it's about the evaluation and application of the information represented in a book, video, or email message. Literacy is more than knowledge and skills, it's also the disposition toward lifelong learning and global awareness. What does literacy mean to you? Is everyone you know literate by today's standards?
Key Words
Learn More
21st Century Literacies from ATT Knowledge Network Explorer. Includes information, visual, cultural, and media.
Armstrong, Sara & Warlick, David (September 1, 2004). The NEW Literacy -- The 3 Rs Evolve into the 4 E. Technology and Learning. (IUPUI password required).
Au, Kathryn & Raphael, Taffy (2000). Changes in Literacy, Literature and Instruction Hold Promise for Increasing Educational Equity. Reading Research Quarterly in the Smart Library on Literacy and Technology. Do you agree or disagree with the author's views on the literacy gap in the future? Provide support for your view.
Leu, Donald & Kinzer, Charles (2000). What Challenges Face the Use of Information and Communication Technologies for Literacy Instruction? Reading Research Quarterly in the Smart Library on Literacy and Technology. They found that changes in literacy instruction have caused budgetary challenges, professional development challenges, and challenges to equal benefits from technologies.
Leu, Donald & Kinzer, Charles (2000). What Will Literacy Instruction Look Like in the Future? and Scholars Identify Cultural Forces that are Shaping Literacy. Reading Research Quarterly in the Smart Library on Literacy and Technology. Also, consider related articles. They identified 3 strong cultural forces shaping literacy and literacy instruction including global economic competition, public policy initiatives, and the relationship between literacy and technology. Do you agree or disagree with their predictions?
Ley, D.J. & Coiro, J. Literacy Web from University of Connecticut. The Literacy Web is designed to promote the use of the Internet as a tool to assist classroom teachers in their search for best practices in literacy instruction, including the new literacies of Internet technologies.
McKenzie, Jamie (September 1998). The Information Literate School Community. From Now On.
Murray, Denise. Technologies Do Not Bring about Revolutions, People Do and A Brief History of Literacy Technologies in Smart Library on Literacy and Technology. Do you agree or disagree with his statements of technology and social change? Why?
Rafferty, Cathleen (1999). New Forms of Literacy Create Implications for Educators. Educational Leadership in Smart Library on Literacy and Technology. She defines the different types of literacy and presents a plan for teachers in developing a literacy-for-learning vision.
Smart Library on Literacy and Technology. Explore additional articles on literacies as you wish.
Wolf, Sara Elizabeth (March 2004). Making the grade with information literacy. Learning Quarterly.