tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post7317473591402121798..comments2023-12-08T03:29:25.202-05:00Comments on Adult Literacy @ VCU: Still Trying to Define LiteracySusan Watsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03203951366654414340noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-24532931080183399442014-02-08T17:19:25.331-05:002014-02-08T17:19:25.331-05:00We live in a society that is VERY centered on the ...We live in a society that is VERY centered on the written word. I think that is why we automatically associate the word literacy with these discrete skills. Perhaps in his community, this young man has all of the skills that he needs to be considered literate. However, outside of his neighborhood, he might be confronted with obstacles that he cannot overcome due to his limited reading and writing skills.<br /><br />Recently, I attended a workshop on teaching strategies for oral learners, which focused on education in cultures who rely predominantly on oral tradition. The facilitator first taught us a few simple stories from a text and asked us to get into groups and tell them to each other, not memorized word for word and not looking at the text. For many of us, it was very difficult. We really wanted those visual cues! However, we were told that someone from an oral culture would pick up on the story with not nearly as much repetition. Therefore, because we do not possess all the skills that we need to participate in their preferred form of learning, we may be considered illiterate by them!Rachel Wiltshirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09233952480694693938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-36685896682164868332014-02-07T21:59:50.808-05:002014-02-07T21:59:50.808-05:00Ah, Carol, But if we have too narrow a definition,...Ah, Carol, But if we have too narrow a definition, that also is a disservice to those who are in our adult literacy classrooms, yes? Hang in there...We will reach clarity, though it will take some good constructivist effort to get there! Bill Muthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12295192908023335854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-40798227542547646292014-02-07T21:48:04.681-05:002014-02-07T21:48:04.681-05:00Hello Lauren and all. Lauren--of course, on one le...Hello Lauren and all. Lauren--of course, on one level, that classic definition of literacy is fine: "the ability to read, write and verbally communicate with people." And once we are in agreement as to whose text, whose language, whose genre counts, then teaching skills such as fluency, comprehension and vocabulary, is extremely important. Maybe all this "unpacking" is an exercise in futility. After all, hasn't society already decide whose literacy counts? Well, stay tuned.... :)Bill Muthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12295192908023335854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-29356727618455759472014-02-06T08:54:50.902-05:002014-02-06T08:54:50.902-05:00It's interesting to think about what we have t...It's interesting to think about what we have traditionally thought about as literacy, and turn that idea inside out. We assume that all learning comes from being reading-literate, but that's not the reality, is it? I grew up in a community of immigrants who were not traditionally book literate, but who all held jobs and had families and went to school and paid their bills. Our discussions, and this blog post, have made me think about that larger literacy picture! ---CaitlinCaitlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10233961644330546764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-66047586181903223242014-02-05T08:45:24.563-05:002014-02-05T08:45:24.563-05:00
We are all aligned. Through this class I have le...<br />We are all aligned. Through this class I have learned to see many words in various ways. Like Discourse and Empowerment, Literacy has many sub-groups. I am sure we will explore new definitions of literacy as we continue in class.<br /><br />Shannon<br />Shannon Beyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14029749932013504967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082226991800167507.post-17905083898993290892014-02-04T19:14:40.205-05:002014-02-04T19:14:40.205-05:00Hey Lauren! I'm with you! I'm still wrappi...Hey Lauren! I'm with you! I'm still wrapping my head around the ephemeral concept of adult literacy and what it's supposed to mean. Once I think know, the concept morphs into something else; something that can be called culture, behavior, development, learning, society, etc. I actually hoped for a blanket definition of the word. I've come to understand that it encompasses many aspects of meaning, but I also believe that by not having one is doing a disservice to the all the millions of people who are not in the field of education.Carolnoreply@blogger.com