[LM_NET] HIT 2: Definition of Literacy

[Toni Buzzeo <tonibuzzeo@TONIBUZZEO.COM>]

I found this and thought it was interesting.

Is there a single definition of literacy?

Typical dictionary definition:

              The ability to read

Begs the question:

             Read what?

             What about levels of understanding?
***

I use the following with kids in my school  - Literacy is understanding and 
comprehending what you see (media), hear music and other forms of auditory 
presentations such as a teacher) and read (written in any form even 
computer).  The tendency is to associate literacy with being able to 
read.  Well, quite a few can read but do not understand and are then not 
able to process or use what they read - or hear - or see.  I teach that 
literacy is about asking questions and not just accepting what you see hear 
and read as well.

***

Here are 3,
Note the inclusion of understanding/making meaning/critical thinking -
not something many consider as part of the literacy agenda.

Literacy is:
"... the integration of listening, speaking, reading, writing and
critical thinking. It includes a cultural knowledge which enables a
speaker, writer or reader to recognise and use language appropriate to
different social situations. For an advanced technological society such
as Australia, the goal is an active literacy which allows people to use
language to enhance their capacity to think, create and question, in
order to participate effectively in society."


The National Secretariat for the International Year of Literacy, 1990.

Literacy is:
"... the making of meaning and its clear communication to others. Truly
literate people not only read and write, but regularly do so in order to
sort out their ideas and put them in words, to fit them together and
test hypotheses - ie. to make sense and meaning out of our world. Truly
literate people acknowledge that they need to write things down, to talk
them out, to read widely, to listen critically and to respond
articulately. Truly literate people are thinkers and learners."

Brown, H. & Mathie, V. (1990). Inside whole language: A classroom view,
Rozelle, NSW: PETA.

Literacy is:
"... the foundation of effective citizenship, human communication and
social integration in a literate society. Therefore it is important to
foster the lifetime habit of purposeful and critical reading for
information, education and recreation. Literacy is the foundation of
learning in all areas of the curriculum."


Holdaway, D. (1979). The foundations of literacy, Sydney: Ashton
Scholastic.

***

I'm sorry I missed your original post asking for this -- but in seeing your 
hit, I think you might be interested in this page that our students created 
a number of years ago regarding "what it means to be literate."

http://www.aea10.k12.ia.us/literacy/spot/mean12.htm


Toni Buzzeo, MA, MLIS <mailto:tonibuzzeo@tonibuzzeo.com>
Maine Library Media Specialist of the Year Emerita
Maine Association of School Libraries Board Member
Buxton, ME 04093
http://www.tonibuzzeo.com  

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