Designsfor LiteracyPresenter: Eddie Mathews

6341 – Student-Centered Learning

Chapter 6 Presentation (pp 132-143)

Spring 2011

Literacy-Related Question

“What does it mean to be literate in a technological age?”

Opening statement of “An Introductory Opening statement of “An Introductory

Note to Readers,” Note to Readers,” Teaching with Teaching with

TechnologyTechnology, page xi, page xi

Chapter 6 Outline (Part 1)

Defining Literacy• Literacy at the Denotative Level• Literacy at the Connotative Level• An Expanded Definition of Literacy

Chapter 6 Outline (Part 1)

Defining Literacy• Literacy at the Denotative Level• Literacy at the Connotative Level• An Expanded Definition of Literacy

Designing Opportunities for Literacy• Literacy as Symbolic Competence• Literacy as Cognitive Strategies

Defining Literacy

The FACTS of DesignThe FACTS of Design

FoundationsFoundations

Defining Literacy

Traditionally speaking…

Defining Literacy

Traditionally speaking…• Literacy at the denotative level

is the ability to use letters

Defining Literacy

Traditionally speaking…• Literacy at the denotative level

is the ability to use letters• Literacy at the connotative

level is the ability to…read

and write… to learn

Defining Literacy

What is Literacy?

• In 1957, Gray and Reese proposed

the following definition:• “A person is functionally literate when

he has acquired the knowledge and

skills in reading and writing which

enable him to engage effectively in all

activities in which literacy is normally

assumed in his cultural group.”

Defining Literacy

What is Literacy?

• Traditionally speaking…• To be literate is to be a

“man of letters”• Education has reflected

this for many years…and

still dominant in our

teaching and learning

practices today

Defining Literacy

At the Denotative Level

• Think of this as “literal”• Literacy is the ability to use letters – to

have and be able to use the skills

necessary to read and write print• The focus is on mastering word-attack

skills, vocabulary development, and

comprehension• Traditional means: workbooks, reading

series, skill packets, etc.

Defining Literacy

At the Connotative Level

• Think of this as “inferential”• Literacy is knowing how to use letters and

how to share in the fruits of a literal

culture• Remember: “literate people read and

write to learn”…in order to explore ideas,

gather info, profit from debate• Increasing important in late elementary

school thru high school

Defining Literacy

The Expansion of Literacy

• Yes, literacy is squarely entrenched

in the technology of print• That’s OK! But it’s also more than

that in our current culture• Modern electronic technologies (e.g.

phone, television, computer) are now

part of the promotion of literacy

Defining Literacy

Expanded Definition of Literacy

• Today, a literate person must be

more than a “man of letters”• Eisner’s 1994 definition of literacy is

applicable to our day:• Literacy is… “the power to encode ad

decode meaning through any of the

forms that humans use to represent

what they have come to know”

Designing Opportunities

Until very recently, designing

opportunities for literacy

learning has been entrenched

in the technology of print…but

this is changing…

Designing Opportunities

• Today’s students must navigate a

“supersymbolic” world created by the

electronic technologies• This world uses a variety of symbol

systems invented by humans –

numeric, alphabetic, visual/graphical,

musical, verbal, and gestural• To get meaning is to understand them

Designing Opportunities

Symbolic

Text

Designing Opportunities

Symbolism of Tattoos

CreditsCredits

• Chapter 6 information and quotes were taken from Teaching with Technology by Priscilla Norton and Karin M. Wiburg (2003)

• Photos from Yahoo and Google images

• Presentation prepared with Microsoft Office PowerPoint