What is Literacy?
On the first day of class, Jeremiah challenged us to revise the standard and archaic definition of literacy: being able to read and write. Among other things, that definition lacks a certain contextual element, such as being able to “read a situation.”
In “Youth Culture and Digital Media: New Literacies for New Times,” Glynda Hull explores the concept of technological literacy. She defines literacy as a “familiarity with the full range of communicative tools... sensitivity to the power and importance of representation of self and others, along with the space and support to communicate critically” (Hull Hull
As we have understood from the class discussions and from the class readings literacy is a more complex notion that doesn’t seem so at the first glance. For example, Freire’s picture of literacy is this very broad idea that concludes to a simple quote, “Reading the word, reading the world.” Although very simple, this quote is a rather thoughtful and makes reader to pause and think about it. This is just like Einstein’s E=mc2, very simple; nonetheless, astonishing result that summarizes physical observations of many centuries. When I read this quote for the first time, it instantaneously hinted me that literacy is something more creative than what I think. Obviously, understanding what you read and being able to write a chain of worlds is not creative at all. Freire adds this new creative conception to literacy that triggers educators to bring in new innovative ideas to classroom and make it better and more pleasant environment for students. Such as, Hull’s new methodologies of transforming traditional classroom into a new place where besides conventional “pen n’ paper” method, we include more pictures, videos, and digital media. This can be vey much successful since digital media is one of the most important parts of contemporary society.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I understood the full idea of "literacy through the media" until a couple days ago when I was volunteering at St. Martin De Porres. There were two fourth grade boys who came up to me and told me that their dreams were to be come a gospel rapper and a gospel singer. I doubted their skills, them being so young and all. But both of them--despite shyness-- performed for me and both of them were so amazing. Not 'amazing' like what parents tell their kids sometimes, but like really really amazing. I was so inspired by these little boys, and realized that learning & literacy CAN come through different forms outside of just sitting in the classrooms with a science book or an English book opened in front of you. These boys are passionate about their singing and rapping and their time devoted to it teaches them just as much if not more than if they were reading a book, I'm sure.
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