Over time everything evolves and changes. Teaching can be no exception. If I had been asked several years ago what
literacy meant I would probably have replied with something about being able to
read and write. Literacy applied to the
communication, language, or reading classroom.
What did literacy have to do with math or even science?
My own definition of literacy has changed. Literacy is more of being able to absorb
information and make sense out of it.
This can apply to both the great novel and the simple pie graph. Anyone who has ever tried to make sense of an
advanced math book can recognize that knowing what a symbol means and being
able to understand what is in the book are two entirely different things.
Literacy also involves being able to analyze information and
decode the hidden messages. Most of us
probably have experience with this when trying to decipher the theme of a book
or poem, but it goes much farther.
Students need to be able to look at the world around them and look at
information critically. The internet has
made finding information a snap. Type in
a simple search and hundreds of pages worth of information are instantly at the
fingertips. Is the information reliable
though? How does one determine what to
accept as fact and what to question? Are
the results from an experiment presented in a misleading manner? One of my favorite websites to show students
is this one on the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide. While the information may be technically
correct, it is very misleading.
On the flip side, students must also be able to write to be
literate. More than simply writing a
letter or a research paper, literate students should be able to express data in
graphs, tables, and pictures. Literacy
is more than the words in the dictionary. It also involves both knowing how to write, and what NOT to write. Understanding the purpose behind writing is just as important as the writing itself.
I hope this new class will help me find ways to expand on the definition of literacy utilizing technology in a responsible manner.
Hi Valerie. I couldn't agree with you more regarding the different types of literacy depending on the subject matter. I think there is a shift in education, especially secondary, that puts the task of "teaching literacy" on teachers in every discipline. It makes complete sense really. Who better could teach how to read math than a math teacher? And who knows how to read and evaluate history better than a history teacher? The same applies to science and of course literature.
ReplyDeleteThe Common Core Standards have put upon teachers of all levels the necessity to teach students how to read and evaluate text structure and to construct a deeper understanding of that text using multiple mediums including writing and technology being the most prominent.
This is a link to a pretty good video about the applications of the Common Core Standards in schools today. https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/common-core-standards-ela#
It's 14 minutes long but it's very informational.
You definitely explored all the more facets to literacy than simply reading and writing. I've used the fake Dihydorgen Monoxide site with students for many years. They are always shocked that there would be incorrect information on the internet. It's a wake-up call for many. That's why I believe that the ability to evaluate information is such an important literacy skill. With the plethora of resources, both print and digital, that students need to sift through for research, this skill has become even more essential in the 21st century.
ReplyDeletei've used the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus site with my 3rd graders to prove the point that not everything on internet is true. With so much information coming at them from so many different sources, teaching them these new literacy skills is even more important.
ReplyDeleteVal-as I was reading your reflection it made me think about how much teaching has changed in my lifetime. Just the definition of "literacy" has changed to mean so much more. I sometimes hear teachers say something like, "What's wrong with the way I was taught?" in reference to some new approach. We all need to see the bigger picture of the world our students are a part of now. They can be global while sitting in their living room. We didn't have anything close to that. Embracing this fact is one of the steps we need to take in order to help our students continue on the 21st century path.