WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE LITERATE IN THE 21

ST
CENTURY?
Literacy being illiterate meant one thing, you were able to read and write. That is not the case anymore.
Literacy no longer refers only to linguistic abilities, but to any ability that is crucial for successfully
negotiating a field or a set of tasks.
I was taken aback by the statement in this introduction saying: The idea that the literacy needs of
students are not being met is nothing new, really. Such a true statement but it is also so bold at the
same time. It makes me wonder, if this isnt a new idea then why isnt it being fixed?
As you read this piece, you might consider what literacies you, as a student in this new decade, need in
order to function as a student, a citizen, and eventually, a professional This stood out to me because it
is something that I really should be thinking about.
Elizabeth Daly (Expanding the Concept of Literacy) The word language can no longer be limited to
words, but now must also encompass multimedia texts. She concludes that those who are truly literate
in the twenty-first century will be those who both read and write the multimedia language of the
screen. SO TRUE, I will be using this quote in my AMS final essay!

Richard L. Scheaffer just as the information age is making the world more quantitativethe ability of
people to deal with numerical issues of practical consequence is shrinking.
21
st
Century Literacies: Curriculum and Assessment Framework
In the 1990s the national council of teachers of English and the internation reading association
established national standards for English language arts learners that would prepare students
for literacy in the 21
st
century.
What I got from the list of standards was that they fully anticipated the rise of technology. Even
if they didnt straight up say technology they referred to it. For example Manage, analyze, and
synthesize multiple streams of simultaneous information. That is exactly what we have learned
to do with technology today.
Students in the 21
st
century should have experience with and develop skills around
technological tools used in the classroom and the world around them. Through this they will
learn about technology and learn through technology. In addition, they must be able to select
the most appropriate tools to address particular needs. The last sentence in that quote made
me think of when I have to decide whether its more appropriate to use excel or word for a
project.
1. Basically The National Council of Teachers of English redefines the concept of literacy as
technology. They understood how huge of an impact technology would be on our
language and learning. Instead of just knowing how to read and write, our generation is
now expected how to use all the different types of technology that we are provided
with.
2. Under the 21
st
century list of requirements for literacy, level of ethics and safety
exhibited in students online behavior is listed. Under the earlier demands of literacy,
nowhere in there were they concerned about online safety.

3. I do believe that these drastic shifts have taken attention way from traditional literacies,
but I dont believe its a bad thing. Our language and capabilities in learning will
continue to grow and change and whats wrong with expanding our education in
literacy? Our English teachers should be accepting of the changes in our literacy and the
fact that we are going to have to shift and redirect the way they teach.

AASL Standards for the 21
st
-Century Learner

1. I believe that the prepare students for lifelong learning , informed decision-making,
a love of reading, and the use of information technologies is super important. To be
literate today means that you have to know how to be a learner in many different
ways, which can be a difficult idea to grasp. I myself have found myself struggle with
each one of those points so I believe its important for those points to be taught
thoroughly.
2. Research is personal because you sometimes have to figure thing s out and learn on
your own. It can be collaborative because a lot of the time you learn with a group or
another person.
3. You would need to make sure you have an outline of all the steps you need to take.
Figure out what is the most important factor to focus on and make it a clear and
educational process.

Visual Literacy in the Age of Participation

1. There have been such obvious changes, changes in the way we research, the way
we read and much more. Our obsession with technology has made it less likely
for us to be deep thinkers or researchers because the answer we are looking for
is typically at the click of a mouse.
2. Its has made it more important because we have to learn in a different way then
what our world is used to. We are becoming more visual learners because we
can easily watch what we need to learn on computers and such.
3. They all agree that technology is changing the way we learn and the way we
perceive things.