Literacy has changed and evolved for the 21st century classroom by going from information that is simply read to information that is interactive. Instead of simply reading an article on a topic, students can read information plus click on a link with additional information. Additionally, students can often comment on the information they read. Instead of simply having a student write a paper, students can now publish information on a website or a blog. Literacy 2.0 offers more options and is more interactive than Literacy 1.0.
Vocabulary, comprehension, reading, writing, critical thinking are all crucial just like they were with Literacy 1.0, but Literacy 2.0 adds more skills to Literacy 1.0. Literacy 2.0 includes collaborating, watching, listening, sharing, evaluating, and being creative.
One skill that is especially important with Literacy 2.0 is being able to evaluate the accuracy of information. For example, this week during the flooding around the St. Louis area a picture was floating around showing Six Flags was flooded. The picture looked real, however it was from several years ago in Georgia not Missouri. Countless people reposted the picture on Facebook or Twitter rather than evaluate the accuracy of the source of the information. Here is the link to the St. Louis Post Dispatch’s article on the fake Six Flags picture.
Several professional organizations have recognized the fact the lines between technology and literacy are blended. Additionally, literacy is taught more throughout all subjects rather than just being saved for reading or language arts classes.
The text discusses the importance of focusing on the functions of literacy rather than the tools students are using. The functions the text recommends include searching, communicating, producing, listening and viewing, sharing, presenting, storing, collaborating, and networking. These are the skills that students need to have in order to be successful in the 21st Century Classroom and more importantly prepare students for 21st Century Careers.
References
Frey, N., Fisher, D., & Gonzalez, A. (2010). Literacy 2.0: reading and writing in 21st century classrooms. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI agree that we as educators in all age levels and subject areas need to be showing students the importance of evaluating a site for accuracy. Your example of the Six Flags photo is great. I also agree with the text that it is important for us to focus more on the functions of literacy, not just the web 2.0 tools to accomplish this task.
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteRE: “Instead of simply reading an article on a topic, students can read information plus click on a link with additional information. “
Your post touches on many aspects of literacy 2.0. I want to focus on your mention of links in reading material which no one else mentioned. Much of the information that today’s students read contains hypertext. Some studies suggest that learners lacking in prior knowledge learn more by reading information that has a predetermined reading order (without hypertext). Conversely, learners with higher amounts of prior knowledge learn more by being allowed to determine reading order by reading text that contains hypertext. Teachers need to instruct learners how to make sense of information containing hypertext.
Happy learning!
Dr. Dell
Michelle,
ReplyDeleteRE: Additionally, literacy is taught more throughout all subjects rather than just being saved for reading or language arts classes.
I never did enjoy any of my English courses much. I would have done much better in an English class that was integrated with another subject. I was always very interested in animals and loved to research them and write about what I learned. The students often ask if they need to write in complete sentences, and when I ask for a paragraph I get one run-on sentence far to often. A personal goal for myself in the next couple of years is to be more diligent about how I score their writings. I start out that way but sometimes get over whelmed with the amount that has to be graded since we have so many students throughout the day. I think that it would be very beneficial to integrate more literacy into every subject, using a variety of media.