In the Age of the Smartphone,

Students Need Help with Social

Literacy
By Caitrin Blake • March 7, 2017
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 Email
Today’s students have grown up with the internet, with cellphones becoming
something of an extra appendage. Many can’t make it through lunch (much
less a whole day) without checking their phones or otherwise interacting with
technology.

Always-on culture has been a challenge

for recent graduates who entered the workforce without the social intelligence
that came naturally to their older co-workers. This situation underscores the
importance of educating students in what could be called social literacy to
ensure their academic and career success.

Situational Awareness in the Workplace

While casual office attire has become the norm in many offices, job interviews
typically require more formal dress and behavior to demonstrate a level of
respect. Stories prevail of young adults showing up to interviews in casual
clothing, texting or using phones during job interviews or even bringing their
parents with them.

Such behavior demonstrates a lack of situational awareness about what is

appropriate to do in different social circumstances. While college classrooms
or the actual office atmosphere may allow for a more casual dress code,
students need to be taught what is acceptable socially in terms of dress or
behavior to stand out above their colleagues.

An ability to read social situations illustrates a strength to employers — quickly

picking up on a client’s mood or expectations in various business or cross-
cultural situations can be the difference between success and failure.

Social Intelligence in Technological

Communication
Text-speak and technology use have affected many young people’s ability to
communicate. For example, college students have been known to send five-
word emails devoid of salutations, courtesy or context. Often, the emails state
something to the effect of “why did I get a zero on my assignment,” which
leaves teachers, who often carry heavy course loads, to determine the class,
assignment and grade the student is referring to.

While email has deformalized much of the communication process, students

still need to ensure their writing denotes respect and provides enough context
for professors (or future employers) to readily respond.

In addition, text-speak has reduced students’ ability to communicate using

correct grammar. Through studying particular communication genres and
what they demand, students can learn more about what individual situations
demand in terms of the formality of communication. For example, if a
professor signs an email “Dr. Smith,” this is a fairly good indication that they
expect to be addressed as such and not informally by their first name.

Social Intelligence in Traditional

Communication
While email has taken over as the primary method of communication,
traditional modes of discourse still exist. For example, many employers still
expect cover letters in addition to resumes, and the lack of a thank-you note
for a gift is often perceived as more than a simple social oversight.

An ability to craft these types of documents illustrates an understanding of

social expectations and denotes a level of respect or appreciation. While not
related to the traditional educational canon, learning to properly write a cover
letter or business letter or a thank-you card not only teaches students that
these documents exist and are often necessary, but it also shows them how to
craft them, saving them time and energy in the future.

Years ago, classes focused on the basics of communications were popular

offerings in high schools. These courses were often perceived as an “easy A”
for seniors, and while they probably were, they also taught students important
lessons about how to present themselves. Teachers taught everything from
how to shake hands through how to conduct written communication.

Such classes may not teach students a great deal about traditional subject
matter, but the curriculum can mean the difference between success and
failure.

Caitrin Blake has a BA in English and Sociology from the University of

Vermont and a master’s degree in English literature from the University of
Colorado Denver. She teaches composition at Arapahoe Community College.
Learn More: Click to view related resources.
Welcome to my webpage! Throughout the semester in TE402, I have been
learning about new literacies and how to teach students them in the
classroom. One literacy that I find extremely important is social literacy. On
this webpage, I will discuss what exactly social literacy consists of, why it is
important, how it has changed over time, and most importantly, how we as
teachers can incorporate this literacy into our classroom and provide our
students with the skills and knowledge that they need. Thank you for your
time, I hope that you enjoy the site!
-Susie Plaggemars

What is Social Literacy and why is it important?

Social Literacy is a students successful performance and understanding of
social Skills, organizational skills, and communication skills. It is the students
ability to connect effectively with those around them. Social literacy spans
across interacting with peers, family, coworkers, teachers, and even people
we may not have met face to face.
Social literacy is so crucial in a persons success. The ability to communicate
and voice opinions and thoughts, as well as listening to opinions and thoughts
of others, is essential in learning. Firmly grasping social cues and norms is
extremely beneficial. In literally every single setting of our lives:school, home,
work, clubs and activities, interacting with people(whether face to face or
behind technology), we use our social literacy. We play so many roles
everyday and we socially need to understand how to play those roles
appropriately. For example: I would speak differently with my friends than I
would my mother, or I would chat on facebook differently than I would while
emailing a professor. Without an understanding of this communication, one
cannot function with success in society.

How has social literacy changed over time?

 In the past, social literacy was understood
as a students ability to communicate in social
settings. This definition broadened and
continues to broaden into more and more
social realms. Over time, and especially
recently, social settings are changing from just
a face to face environment. For students to
competently interact socially and communicate
effectively includes a newer and very present
realm: the internet.
Understanding how to communicate
appropriately and use technology effectively in
our social lives is so important in todays world.
We as teachers are responsible for using
technology as an advantage and fully using its
benefits to improve social literacy even further.

How can we incorporate social literacy into the

classroom?

Ways to incorporate social literacy online:

Blogging: Through blogging, students learn

how to effectively use the internet and share
their thoughts and knowledge appropriately.
Reading classmates blog posts and responding
helps students learn from others and gives
them access to others ideas, as well as a
chance to constructively respond.

Class website: A class website is extremely

useful in teaching students how to use and
navigate on the internet. Keeping students
updated on class happenings, as well as giving
students opportunity to write and contribute on
the class website will teach them useful skills
in communicating on the internet.

Video conferencing: Video conferencing has

endless possibilities. Whether it is
conferencing with a professional in the
community, or students from a culture across
the world, it opens up a realm of social
interaction that can teach students so much
about people in the world around them.

Social Networking Sites: social networking

gives students opportunities to know and learn
about people all over the world in a matter of
seconds. Encouraging students to meet people
of other cultures and learn about social issues
around the world is a priceless opportunity-and
we are so blessed to have sites like these to
make it happen.

Ways to incorporate social literacy in a face to

face environment:

Group projects: group projects give students

opportunities to interact face to face and
experience social interactions. It is so crucial
that students learn to interact with people
effectively and contribute their part. ,

Peer reviewing: Peer reviewing teaches

students how to give constructive advice and
communicate their thoughts well. To be able to
give constructive criticism and view another
persons ideas is an imprtant ability.

Field trips: taking students to a museum or to

volunteer in an area in need could help
students open their eyes and learn about
different societies. On any field trip, even
learning how to travel in groups, communicate
with people in charge, and work together as a
 group will be effective in teaching students to
be socially literate.

Social Literacy as a Competitive

Advantage
AUTHOR
Roope Heinilä@roopehe
PUBLISHED
July 23, 2013
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Social literacy refers to knowing how to use social

tools and platforms to find and gather information, share thoughts, and generate
discussion. For businesses this has already generated massive opportunities to better
connect with customers and other stakeholders as well as improve the general
perception of their brand. What has largely been ignored is the potential of socially
literate employees who use these tools and services to increase their own competence
and thus the competence of the business.
The benefits outweigh the concerns
While there are concerns with employees using social platforms and tools, such as data
security issues and productivity loss, failing to adapt social tools can be fatal to
organizations moving forward. Furthermore, these concerns are usually based on
management perceptions and not on actual studies and/or statistics. Hence
management should provide their employees with the necessary tools and encourage
their use if they are to stay ahead of the competition.

Benefits of socially literate employees

Socially literate employees are able to gather information from multiple sources
efficiently and participate in meaningful discussions, which often lead to new ideas and
business opportunities. A study by Microsoft found that 46% of employees believe their
productivity has improved due to the use of social tools. However, there is a clear lack
of management buy-in that is resulting in a loss of productivity and innovation.
According to Microsoft's study 38% of employees feel management underestimates the
potential of social tools in the workplace while 37% feel they could perform better in
their job if management was supportive of the use of these tools.

Most industrialized countries now have a heavily knowledge based economy where
information and the ability to apply that information makes the difference between a
thriving business and a failing business. Information gathering has become increasingly
important as organizations are strained to stay ahead in innovation. By supporting
employees' use of social tools, management is opening their eyes to new ideas.

Encourage employees to use social tools

Organizations that are encouraging their employees to use social tools have found a
new competitive advantage as their employees are able to learn faster and keep up with
market trends better than ever before. The increase in sharing and collaboration has led
to employees being better informed and thus able to make better decisions and
generate new, more efficient ways of working.
Employees clearly want to use these tools as they are already seeing the benefit for
both themselves and their employer. According to the study 30% say they would even
be willing to use their own money for a new tool if it could make them more efficient at
their job.

What needs to be done?

Any organization that wants to stay competitive will soon need to adopt social tools as
social media is fast becoming the preferred place to get information. Companies need to
provide their employees with training on the use of these platforms and the necessary
tools to truly benefit from them. From our experience at Smarp, the following steps are
usually needed:

1. Management buy-in
Without management buy-in organizations are stuck in old habits and unable to
incorporate new, more effective ways of working. Therefore the first step needs to be
getting management buy-in to the change.

2. Encouragement
Companies should not only allow the use of social tools but encourage it. This requires
some type of internal promotion so that the benefits are clear to the employees and they
are sufficiently motivated.

3. Training
To ensure no-one is left behind, the company should provide its employees with training
on the use of these platforms and tools. This will increase the competence of
employees and create a "smarter" company.

4. Tools
By providing employees with tools to share and interact effectively, companies are able
to leverage their employees' knowledge and networks for business benefit. This will also
make the use of social tools and platforms more effective.

5. Application of new ideas

Employers should encourage employees to use the new found knowledge in their work
to drive innovation in the organization. This requires that the business is open to testing
new ideas and ways of working and moving away from old, less effective procedures.

BENEFITS OF LITERACY
Improved literacy can contribute to economic growth; reduce poverty; reduce crime;

promote democracy; increase civic engagement; prevent HIV/AIDS and other diseases

through information provision; enhance cultural diversity through literacy programmes in

minority languages; lead to lower birth rates as a result of increased education; and

confer personal benefits such as increased self-esteem, confidence and empowerment.

However, the benefits of literacy ensue only when broader rights and development

frameworks are in place and operating effectively. Individual benefits, for example,

accrue only when written material is available to the newly literate person.
Literacy Combats Poverty, Improves Health and Promotes Social
Development

The spread of literacy has emerged as a major factor in economic and social

development. In fact, the linkages between education, health and nutrition are mutual

and complementary. The strong linkages between education, health, nutrition and

reduced fertility result in synergies, which can transform vicious cycles of poverty,
illiteracy, malnutrition and disease into virtuous cycles of learning and health, equity and

sustainable development.

Kowsar P. Chowdhury

World Bank, Literacy and Primary Education

Specifically, Literacy Confers Human, Political, Cultural, Social and Economic

Benefits:
POLITICAL BENEFITS
The empowering potential of literacy can translate into increased political participation

and contribute to the quality of public policies and democracy.

Political participation: the relationship between education and political participation is

well established. Educated people are to some extent more likely to vote and voice more

tolerant attitudes and democratic values Hannum and Buchmann, 2003.

Ethnic equality: although no research into the impact of literacy on ethnic equality

appears to exist, literacy certainly has the potential to benefit disadvantaged ethnic

groups but will not necessarily do so. It is not safe to assume that expanding access to

education will allow disadvantaged minorities to “catch up” with initially advanced ethnic

groups, at least in the short run. Hannum and Buchmann, 2003.

Democracy: the precise nature of the relationship between education and democracy

remains unclear but studies suggest that the more learners know about democratic

institutions, the more likely they are to plan on voting as adults.

Post-conflict situations: literacy programmes can have an impact on peace and

reconciliation in post-conflict contexts. Mobilising people’s capacity for resilience by

having them write down their experiences and share them with others helps those
affected by conflict to come to terms with their trauma and move towards constructive

action.