Journal - Wk #3

Quote:

“In recent years, labels for many new literacies -- including computer literacy, cultural literacy, diagrammatic literacy, document literacy, economic literacy, environmental literacy, film literacy, information literacy, mathematical literacy, media literacy, music literacy, political literacy, scientific literacy, technical literacy, television literacy, video literacy, and visual literacy -- have emerged (Patersson, 1996). These literacies involve specific competencies that seem to be in demand in schools and industry.”

Response:

This first sentence of the essay brought to mind the Standards for the 21^St Century Learner presented by the American Association of School Librarians.  This entire document is focused on how, and why, youth need to be taught information literacy.  It clearly established objectives, and guidelines for instruction.  These standards are a driving force in primary education with entire courses being taught in post-secondary on these standards and the ways that Library Media Specialists (School Librarians) might incorporate them in their learning environment (classroom). 

It is obvious, after reviewing and studying the standards for an entire semester that information literacy is only the surface of the broader scope of literacy that students are now required to have.  It is no longer enough to study the 3 R’s.  The days of Reading, Ritin’, and Rithmatic are long gone.

RESOURCE:

There are a variety of resources that address the Standards for 21^st Century Learner including print, internet, and a variety of multi-media avenues.  It is possible to locate a number of videos on You Tube that address different components of the standard.  It is fairly safe to say, in the 21^st Century that if it appears on You Tube it must be true.  (Although I could not find a Facebook page for the Standards)

http://www.ala.org/aasl/guidelinesandstandards/learningstandards/standards

1.      What is meant by the term "new literacies" and give me a concrete example of how it should change teachers' understanding of what it means to literate in the digital age.

New literacies are literacies that have emerged in the “post-typgraphic” era.  It is also important to understand that literacy is the ability, to read, understand, and interpret information competently.  It is no longer enough to be able to read and write to be productive in society, it is now important to be able to decipher a variety of other medias, languages, and social situations.

2.      In your own words explain what this quote means:

In a wordy and superflourious way, this quote says that we are no longer a society of independent, free thinkers.  We are being told what to think, how to think, and our very thought processes are being controlled.  We must break out of this world of believing everything we see and hear and regain our independent minds and voices.

3.      What does the lack of critical media literacy in schools create?

The lack of critical media literacy in school creates a population that has not learned the skills necessary to think independently and evaluate all that the many types of media presented.

4.      Why is it preposterous to claim an absolute definition of " literacy"?

Literacy, by its very definition is the ability to interpret and disseminate new information and since we do not know what new frontiers there are in communication it is impossible to make an absolute definition.

5.      Why does this author advocate for a more critical approach to visual literacy? Do you agree? Why or why not?

This author believes, as I do, that the broadness of visual literacy is a challenge in both education and life skills.  We can prepare students to face the world in the broadest sense, but we cannot prepare them for what the future may hold in new literacies.  Therefore we must give them the skills necessary to analyze new literacies and technologies and they encounter them.

Citations