Defining Literacy

The definition I once had regarding literacy was that it was simply about reading and writing.  The more courses I took and with more exposure to other forms of literature I realize that it was more than just having a pen and paper and recognizing and understanding English words on a page.  I also thought that literacy was simply reading one type of genre and exposing only one side (views, opinions, cultures, traditions, etc.) of our world.  Similarly, with more exposure and educational experiences, I realized that literacy is more than what I originally thought.  

uploaded by numonohimax

I chose to use this first clip because I feel that it provided a succinct definition of what literacy means, especially after the initial class discussion where we discussed that it was a "tool" for communication, a "cultural" and social construct, a "legion" of meanings, and so on.  However, I feel that the meaning of literacy is not limited to what is expressed in this short clip.  I included the next clip because not only does it add to the definition of literacy and the varying forms of literature that are now available to us and specifically to children, this next clip shows that there is an emerging redefinition of what literacy can and will mean and the multiple modes and mediums it will be expressed in.  

uploaded by shareski

In this clip, literacy goes beyond my initial definition and it calls attention to "speaking, listening, representing and viewing" (A fresh look at literacy, 2007).  It gives us a glimpse of the different mediums (audio equipments, computers, videos, etc.) -  "technoliteracies" (Makin, 2007, p. 4) - available to children so that they are able to partake and experience literacy the way they choose to.

As I begin this course, I am interested to see and learn how the redefined meaning of literacy will impact the way children make meaning of their world and how they will utilize the varying medium to express themselves.  I am eager to learn more about the responses educators and parents already have and will have regarding what literacy means now and what it could mean in the future.  It will also be interesting to know how educators and parents will react to children's responses to the increasingly varied modalities of literature that are becoming more and more available to children.  


Some questions to consider:
~How will educators and parents ensure that children are able to have "opportunities...to learn in a variety of ways" (A fresh look at literacy, 2007)?
~How will educators and parents promote critical thinking through these variations and how will they ensure that the different meaning and practice of literacy is honoured and respected (Makin, 2007)?  


References:

Makin, L., Jones Diaz, C.,  & McLachlan, C. (Eds.).  (2007).  Literacies in childhood:

Changing views, challenging practice (2^nd ed.).  Marrickville, NSW: Maclennan & Petty:

Elsevier.

(2008, January 22).  What is Literacy?  [Online video].  Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D215eartxSo


(2007, June 5).  A fresh look at literacy.  [Online video].  Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYULwztDqrk