The Literacy Mosaic

When I first started this course, if you had asked me what the definition of literacy was, I would have replied “the ability to read and write”. After all, that has been the traditional benchmark used when discussing literacy levels around the world. However, in the 21st century it is time to be re-thinking our definitions of literacy beyond the world of reading and writing to that of having skills or competency in an area.

In their 2006 EFA World Monitoring Report, UNESCO dedicated the entire report to literacy and stated “The word ‘literacy’ has begun to be used in a much broader, metaphorical sense, to refer to other skills and competencies, for example ‘information literacy’, ‘visual literacy’, ‘media literacy’ and ‘scientific literacy’.” (UNESCO, p.150) The presentations and research done by my classmates opened my eyes to just how many literacies are involved in a modern society. It goes beyond knowing and understanding words on a page. It involves critical thinking and communicating. It involves skill sets requiring us to utilize various tools beyond the pages of a book. It’s the interpretation of music, visuals, and words. It’s about making personal connections to help develop empathy and a better understanding. It’s about being a global citizen.

Literacy in the 21st century no longer has any borders. As noted by the NCTE definition of 21st Century Literacies “as society and technology change, so does literacy.” (2013) People can connect directly with one another for feedback and information. Writing is no longer limited to those printed in books. Writing can belong to anyone who chooses to go online and engage with humanity. Whether it is through social media, wikis, blogs, or websites. There are more avenues now than ever before for people to be literate and “the 21st century demands that a literate person possess a wide range of abilities and competencies, many literacies”. (NCTE, 2013)

I feel as though I am competent with the literacy as a form of reading and writing, however there are other literacies that I can certainly develop within myself- music literacy is definitely one of them. I love to listen to music but have extreme difficulty reading the notes. When I am working with students, have I taken the time to consider what their gifts in the different literacies could be? They may be struggling with their reading and writing but perhaps they have strong skills in data literacy or music (the area I’m lacking in! J )

I now view literacy in the 21st century as an intricate mosaic. The components of all of the various literacies working together to help improve communication and understanding on a deeper level. Many components of one literacy are needed to develop proficiencies in another- they are intertwined and connected. In education, it is important to remember that and develop as many as possible in the students we teach. We want our students to be trans-literate and have “different things meet, mix, and rub together.” (Thomas, et al., 2007) not just literate!


The Power of Literacy

“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development, an essential complement to investments in roads, dams, clinics and factories. Literacy is a platform for democratization, and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. Especially for girls and women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right.... Literacy is, finally, the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.”

― Kofi Annan

I believe this quotes sums up well the impact of literacy. Being able to understand what is being communicated to one another provides us with a lot of power to make an impact in so many ways. It is important to be aware of the new literacies involved in the 21st centuries. As teachers, it is our duty to embrace them and allow our students the ability to become proficient in as many as possible. By doing this, we can ensure that the children we teach are better prepared for the future that awaits them.


References:

National Council of Teachers of English Executive Committee (2013). NCTE definition of 21st century literacies. Retrieved from  http://www.ncte.org/positions/statements/21stcentdefinition

Thomas, S., Joseph, C., Laccetti, J., Mason, B., Mills, S., Perril, S., & Pullinger, K. (2007). Transliteracy: Crossing Divides. First Monday, Vol.12 (12). Retrieved from http://www.uic.edu/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2060/1908

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (2005). EFA Global Monitoring Report: Literacy for Life. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/efareport/reports/2006-literacy/