What is Literacy?
If you had of asked me this question a few weeks ago I would have answered, the ability to read and write. If you Google what is literacy you will find a fairly succinct answer the same as above. After meeting Dr Ania Lian however I now know literacy is much more then that and this answer is in no way sufficient to define what literacy is, if one could define literacy anyway.
The Australian curriculum introduction to literacy defines literacy as. Students become literate as they develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions to interpret and use language confidently for learning and communicating in and out of school and for participating effectively in society. Literacy involves students in listening to, reading, viewing, speaking, writing, and creating oral, print, visual and digital texts, and using modifying language for different purposes in a range of contexts. Australian Curriculum iphone app (2014).
In my words literacy is not only having the ability to read and write but also having an understanding of everything around us, and in my opinion one can never be fully literate or even for that matter fully define what literacy is, as literacy grows and evolves inside us every day, we are never not learning or expanding our experiences and thinking. Jemma writes, education is expansive it stretches our understanding. If we always do the same thing, in the same place, conversing with the same people about the same ideas, how can we grow and learn. Jemma Whittaker(2014). We learn and interpret different situations every day for survival. We read the street, we read peoples faces, we read situations. "You can't read a situation until you have seen many of them, otherwise it is a blur". Ania Lian,(2014).The ability to learn from these interactions is what makes us literate.
Someone is literate when they can construct and reconstruct information gathered from many sources lecturers, friends, TV, Google, You tube, books, situations, etc, the list goes on, we take this information break it down and form our own meaning, taking what is relevant to us at that given time. I can expand my knowledge base within myself and others. This is why I say literacy is an ever evolving thing. Someone is literate when they have the ability to do this and then interact with others in a meaningful positive way to be a valued and contributing member in society. "We communicate to win". Ania, Lian, (2014). If you can see it and say it you are literate because you can change it. Jemma Whitaker, (2014).
I believe I am a literate person and this to me is a clearer definition of what literacy is now.
Defining literacy has having the ability to read and write is an archaic way of describing literacy. With technologies changing as quick as they do, our students today need to be exposed to so much more then just the ability to read and write. Yelland writes, Old logics of literacy and teaching are profoundly challenged by this new media environment. They are bound to fall short, not only disappointing young people whose expectations of engagement are greater, but also for failing to direct their energies to developing of the kinds of persons required for the new domains of work, citizenship and personality. Yelland, (2006). Thank You.
Just because you have the ability to read and write, does not mean you are literate, we can teach a monkey to read and write.
If you had of asked me this question a few weeks ago I would have answered, the ability to read and write. If you Google what is literacy you will find a fairly succinct answer the same as above. After meeting Dr Ania Lian however I now know literacy is much more then that and this answer is in no way sufficient to define what literacy is, if one could define literacy anyway.
The Australian curriculum introduction to literacy defines literacy as. Students become literate as they develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions to interpret and use language confidently for learning and communicating in and out of school and for participating effectively in society. Literacy involves students in listening to, reading, viewing, speaking, writing, and creating oral, print, visual and digital texts, and using modifying language for different purposes in a range of contexts. Australian Curriculum iphone app (2014).
In my words literacy is not only having the ability to read and write but also having an understanding of everything around us, and in my opinion one can never be fully literate or even for that matter fully define what literacy is, as literacy grows and evolves inside us every day, we are never not learning or expanding our experiences and thinking. Jemma writes, education is expansive it stretches our understanding. If we always do the same thing, in the same place, conversing with the same people about the same ideas, how can we grow and learn. Jemma Whittaker(2014). We learn and interpret different situations every day for survival. We read the street, we read peoples faces, we read situations. "You can't read a situation until you have seen many of them, otherwise it is a blur". Ania Lian,(2014).The ability to learn from these interactions is what makes us literate.
Someone is literate when they can construct and reconstruct information gathered from many sources lecturers, friends, TV, Google, You tube, books, situations, etc, the list goes on, we take this information break it down and form our own meaning, taking what is relevant to us at that given time. I can expand my knowledge base within myself and others. This is why I say literacy is an ever evolving thing. Someone is literate when they have the ability to do this and then interact with others in a meaningful positive way to be a valued and contributing member in society. "We communicate to win". Ania, Lian, (2014). If you can see it and say it you are literate because you can change it. Jemma Whitaker, (2014).
I believe I am a literate person and this to me is a clearer definition of what literacy is now.
Defining literacy has having the ability to read and write is an archaic way of describing literacy. With technologies changing as quick as they do, our students today need to be exposed to so much more then just the ability to read and write. Yelland writes, Old logics of literacy and teaching are profoundly challenged by this new media environment. They are bound to fall short, not only disappointing young people whose expectations of engagement are greater, but also for failing to direct their energies to developing of the kinds of persons required for the new domains of work, citizenship and personality. Yelland, (2006). Thank You.
Just because you have the ability to read and write, does not mean you are literate, we can teach a monkey to read and write.