Literacy

What is literacy? What does it mean to be literate in the 21st Century? How do you use literacies in your everyday life? 

In the 21st Century, being literate is not just about being able to read and write any more. it is much more complex than we think. It is not just print-related either, and meaning-making does not just derive from the words in the 21st Century. Meaning-making and literacy can both be produced and consumed in more ways than one. These can be in forms of images, videos, gestures, audio and touch, and the designs of these different modes are to make meaning. So, what is literacy?

Literacy to me before reading any of the required readings for this course was about being absolutely proficient in reading and writing. Originally from a non-English speaking background, my reading and writing skills were different to how it was being taught at the school I attended here in Australia, and my perspective of ‘what is literacy?’ was being proficient and excellent in reading and writing. Without the knowledge that literacy can be represented in more ways than one, I became stressed and anxious about this course. In Collins English Dictionary (2012 ed.),  literacy is defined as a noun.

1. the ability to read and write

2. the ability to use the language proficiently

Like I mentioned, I am from a non-English background and at times may pronounce words differently, for example with the letters F and P, I would say “Pilippino” instead of how it is spelt which is ‘Filipino’.

So, how do we use literacies in everyday life if it is simply not being proficient at reading and writing? what is it exactly?

Literacy is being expanded from the idea of just being literate in reading and writing, and into being proficient in all other aspects of communication and meaning making. Literacy dates back to 100,000 years ago when we developed our first languages this is known as our first Globalisation. Then about 5,000 years ago, we progressed on to the second phase of communication, which is writing, known as our second Globalisation. And finally, about 60 years ago, we progressed to the third stage of communication referred to as, our third Globalisation changing the way we communicate by bringing in technology and integrating the digital media to our meaning making design process. Digital media is very multimodal and covers the different areas of literacy. The way we communicate have of course always been multimodal, but more so now than ever before and it is only now that we recognise all the modes as part of literacy.

For further reading on multimodal litercies and technology click: http://www.ncte.org/governance/multimodalliteracies

So, what are the different literacy area?

• Spatial
• Gestural
• Auditory
• Visual
• Linguistic

And why is it important?

We need to be able to adapt to the changes that constantly happen in the world that we live in so that we can be active citizens.

 

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