"If all our children learn to do is read, they will not be literate." David Warlick
Has the definition of literacy changed? React to Warlick's quote with your thinking about "the new literacy."
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11 comments:
No, not today because there are many other ways to be literate, depending on what you are doing the using the right vocab for the task.
Thirty-one and a half years ago I finished a masters degree in reading. A few years later the university changed the name to literacy. About the same time I took a summer institute based on the National Writing Project. My own definition expanded instantly ,and I became a teacher of reading AND writing. Two years ago at another summer institute a woman presented the big 5 of content area literacy: reading, writing, listening, speaking, and thinking and challenged all of us teachers to disagree that all five were our responsibility. I am currently reading a text on adolescent literacy which has a great chapter on the literacy of our students who don't read or write in class but who are bloggers and im-ers supreme. My definition just expanded again.
Susanne
I agree with Warlick as he defines the noun literate as opposed to the adjective. Children who can read and write are literate (adj). But without deeper understanding a child can never become A literate (n). I see our role as teachers to instill a sense of curiosity so that a student may gain his/her understanding of a subject or issue. The Big6 seems to be a way of processing this path to understanding.
"The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn."
Alvin Toffler
Carol Bibeau
There area all kinds of literacy, it seems to me. If kids aren't math literate (matherate?), they haven't got much of a chance in the 21st century, either. What about literacy in second or third languages? Or do you only need to speak a second or third language - writing and reading, esp. literature, in languages other than English are less emphasized these days. I know what I'm supposed to be writing about is computer literacy, but nothing worthwhile is going through my mind at this time on that subject (or others?). If I had money, I'll tell you what I'd do, I'd go downtown and buy a Mercury or two.... - Mercury Blues
To me literacy means that you are actually able to "do something" with the information you've read; respond in writing, demonstrate a skill (if that's what you were reading about) engage another in conversation, etc.
The David Warwick quote refers to a process of being literate.Reading the words and understanding requires an interpretation by steps that may be found in the big6.
Kevin Farrell
"New literacy" is definitely why am here this week and for the next several Thursdays! While I might once have been a "literate native", I have become a "literate immigrant" due to the ever-changing world of technology.
I guess one additional process has always been needed beyond reading: you need to be able to think clearly and have a deep understanding of words and numbers. What good is reading if you can't process it? Also, you have always needed to know how to get the info. effectively and efficiently. You always needed to know how to use the latest technology to get the info. So the "new literacy" seems just like old to me except learning to access the latest technology is now an explicit part of the gig.
I appreciate all your responses - They are well thought out for such short time to process. This made me think that the definition of "literate" hasn't changed as much as its implication. Much like the definition of "communication" hasn't changed, just its means and methods.
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