M2 Discussion 1

I can recall the first literacy class I took during my undergraduate career. Going into it, I only knew literacy as the ability to read and write. This understanding of literacy as exclusively being reading and writing primarily in English can be extremely limiting to the success of our students both inside and outside of the classroom. Preparing students to only be literate in the form of reading and writing hinders their ability to learn and grow. I have many students that are either learning English or speak another language. The traditional definition of literacy “is restricted to paper-based, formalized, and standardized forms of language that only reflects the dominant language and culture.” (Sang, 2017, p.1). The definition of literacy being centered around just the English language limits all of our students, and limits our ability to properly assess their prior knowledge and skills. 

Now, recently, the term new literacies and multiliteracies is often used to describe a “multiple communication forms and contexts of cultural and linguistic diversity within a globalized society.” (Beecher, 2023). New literacies and multiliteracies are much more inclusive definitions, and recognize the various backgrounds that individuals have. The former definition of literacy somewhat implies that individuals need only to read and write to be considered literate. Reading and writing is not enough to enter the world and be successful. Instead, “the world demands that a literate person possess and intentionally apply a wide range of skills, competencies, and dispositions. These literacies are interconnected, dynamic, and malleable.’ (NCTE, 2019). We must provide our students (and ourselves) with the necessary tools, skills, and resources to prepare them for life after graduation. 

Additionally, limiting our students to traditional reading and writing limits their exposure to various experiences and new literacies. In such a digital world, students need to be exposed to various forms of media, both new and old. By exposing students to various forms of media, they are “building and utilizing connections between people, ideas, and information”, which “provides opportunities for them to be critical consumers of information, builds agency in their own work, and prepares them for the global world beyond the classroom.” (NCTE, 2019). New literacies provides our students with exposure to real world scenarios, skills, and tools that will help them to succeed not only academically, but socially too.

References:

Beecher, C. (2023, July). Chapter 1. what is literacy? multiple perspectives on literacy. Iowa State University Digital Press. https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/teachingearlyliteracy/chapter/what-is-literacy-multiple-perspectives-on-literacy/

Definition of literacy a digital age. National Council of Teachers of English. (2019, November 7).    https://ncte.org/statement/nctes-definition-literacy-digital-age/ 

Sang, Y. (2017). Expanded Territories of “Literacy”: New Literacies and Multiliteracies . Journal of Education and Practice , 8 (8).