INTRODUCTION TO 21 ST

CENTURY LITERACIES
Objectives: At the end of this chapter, you should be able to develop a
clear and practical understanding of the following:
• Definitions of conventional literacy; and
• Expanded views of literacy in the 21st century.
WHAT IS LITERACY?
 LITERACY
The state of being able to
read and write (Literacy,
Literate)
 TRADITIONAL OR
CONVENTIONAL LITERACY
•The word “literacy” stems from the word
“literate” and is in turn derived from the
Latin word litteratus, meaning “(a
person) – marked with letters – that is,
“distinguished or identified by letters” –
and it carried the idea that such a
person was cultured and educated.
 3 SUBCATEGORIES (CONVENTIONAL
CONCEPT OF LITERACY) – MILLER (1973)

Basic Literacy
Comprehension Literacy
Functional or Practical Literacy
 BASIC LITERACY
It is the ability to correspond
visual shapes to spoken sounds
in order to decode written
materials and translate them
into oral language.
 COMPREHENSION LITERACY
It is the ability to
understand the meaning
of what is being read.
 FUNCTIONAL OR PRACTICAL LITERACY

It is the ability to read (i,e.,

decode and comprehend)
written materials needed to
perform everyday vocational
tasks.
BASED ON THIS CONVENTIONAL VIEW OF LITERACY,
WE NOTICE TWO THINGS FOR READING (AND
THEREFORE LITERACY) TO EXIST:

1. TEXT TO BE READ
2. MEANING OR MESSAGE BEING
COMMUNICATED BY THE TEXT FOR THE READER
TO EXTRACT.
 EXPANDED VIEWS OF LITERACY
In 2004, UNESCO formally defined “literacy” as “the
ability to identify, understand, interpret, create,
communicate and compute, using printed and
written materials associated with varying contexts.
Literacy involves a continuum of learning in
enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to
develop their knowledge and potential, and to
participate fully in their community and wider
society.”
IN THIS VEIN, MKANDAWIRE (2018)
MORE SUCCINCTLY POSITS THAT
LITERACY IS “A FORM OF
KNOWLEDGE, COMPETENCE, AND
SKILLS IN A PARTICULAR FIELD OR
AREA.
In the same vein of reasoning, the new
literacies are not “new” per se – as in
the sense that they never existed
before. Rather, we consider them to
be new because the contexts in which
old skills and knowledge are being
employed are new, both in nature and
in scope.
 SIMPLY PUT, THREE THINGS HAVE BEEN
CRITICAL IN THE RICE OF THE NEW
LITERACIES:
1.Increased Reach
2.Increased Means of
Communication
3.Increased Breadth of Content
 INCREASED REACH

We are communicating with

more people, from more
diverse cultures, across vaster
distances than ever before.
 INCREASED MEANS OF
COMMUNICATION

We are communicating in
more ways and at faster
speeds than ever before.
 INCREASED BREADTH OF
CONTENT

We are communicating
about more things than ever
before.