How does one define literacies?
If you are like me, literacy has more to do with reading and books. However, this viewpoint is too narrow and as I research new literacies, I have discovered it is much broader. It encompasses much of our everyday lives. New literacies go beyond reading and books, to include the internet and media.
In 1996, the New London Group coined the term “multiliteracies” or “new literacies” to describe a modern view of literacy that reflected multiple communication forms and contexts of cultural and linguistic diversity within a globalized society. They defined multiliteracies as a combination of multiple ways of communicating and making meaning, including such modes as visual, audio, spatial, behavioral, and gestural (New London Group, 1996).
As a child of the eighties and nineties, I have had the privilege of living through many technological changes, such as the internet and cell phones. I remember the days when there were only a couple of computers in my elementary school.
In high school, I learned to type on a typewriter and by the time I was in college, I was using computers. GPS were paper maps and, as my husband and I often remind our children, our only form of navigation to unfamiliar places required a printed map.
The internet wasn’t readily available until the mid to late nineties, and even then, it was dial-up. When we had a paper or research project, we went to the library to find books using a card catalog. My first job, I worked as at my local library as a library page. My job primarily required shelving books and making sure the books were shelved properly. At that time, the file card system was still in place, but it was quickly morphing into an online catalog. It still amazes me how much has changed in such a short period of time.
How does broadening the definition of literacies help in education?
“When learning experiences are grounded in well-informed teaching practices, the use of technology allows a wider range of voices to be heard, exposing learners to opinions, perspectives, and norms outside of their own.” (NCTE)
As a K-2 special education teacher I utilize a wide variety of multimedia to help my students learn. About half of my students struggle to recognize the letters of the alphabet. Our classroom has used videos with songs, iPad apps and games, puzzles, and tactile activities to expose and immerse them as much as possible. In my classroom, the students' involvement in their literacy learning would be limited based on their disabilities. By broadening their exposure, my students have more opportunities to gain the skills they need to learn and grow.
The language requirements and challenges in current workplaces are no longer restricted to reading and writing paper-based texts in native and other foreign languages, but have extended into recognition, interpretation, comprehension, and appreciation of languages and cultures in different forms and in diverse literacy practices. (Sang, 2017)
The expanded definition of literacies has broadened my viewpoint of ways I can incorporate literacy into my classroom to expose my students to more learning. I am looking forward to learning more about literacies and implementing a larger variety of activities with my students.
References
Beecher, C. (2023). Chapter 1. What is Literacy? Multiple Perspectives on Literacy. Iastate.pressbooks.pub. https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/teachingearlyliteracy/chapter/what-is-literacy-multiple-perspectives-on-literacy/
NCTE Definition of Literacy in a Digital Age - NCTE. (n.d.). Ncte.org. https://ncte.org/statement/nctes-definition-literacy-digital-age/print/
New London Group (1996). A Pedagogy of multiliteracies: Designing social futures. Harvard Educational Review, 66(1), 60-92.
Sang, Y. (2017). Expanded Territories of “Literacy”: New Literacies and Multiliteracies. Journal of Education and Practice, 8(8), 16–19. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1139059.pdf
Yes! I was a child of the 90's and growing up, we did not have computers in the classrooms. We had to go to the computer lab to practice typing and we started playing some learning games. We continued to have computer lab time, but we did most of our research using books and articles, even into my high school career. It was fascinating we could start to research information on the computer, but it was usually Wikipedia and was not reliable.
ReplyDeleteIn my kindergarten classroom, we also utilize videos and songs to help students learn. We also use a few apps that help with reading and math. I think technology can help be a supplement for our students, but at the end of the day for our littles, I think it is important that we talk and play with them. I love using tactile resources in my classroom like sand trays, play scarves, wikki sticks, playdoh and other resources. There is so much learning that goes on through play. I think sometimes we rely heavily on our digital world and our student's skills are showing that. The one thing I have noticed in my classes is that most students do not know nursery rhymes or children's songs anymore. This is such a disadvantage to their learning because it helps with their rhyme recognition, their language, and even their literacy skills! Have you observed this as well in your classroom? I am trying to constantly sing songs or make up silly rhymes for my student's to hear or learn.