Demands of Literacy and Numeracy in the 21st Century classroom
The definitions of literacy and numeracy have expanded beyond being able to read, write and add up numbers. With the 21st century has come an amazing development of technology, which has changed the way in which we not only use literacy and numeracy but how we interpret it, (Alberta Education (a & b), n.d). Literacy and numeracy are now seen as requirements for everyday usage and not just for academia, (Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians, 2008, p. 8). See full definitions below.
Literacy: “… the ability, confidence and willingness to engage with language to acquire, construct and communicate meaning in all aspects of daily living.” (Alberta Education (a), n.d).
Numeracy: “ To be numerate is to use mathematics effectively to meet the general demands of life at home, in paid work, and for participation in community and civic life.” (Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers, 1997, p.15).
In the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), there are seven general capabilities, two of which are numeracy and literacy, (ACARA, 2013). These general capabilities are designed to ensure that students are being given the knowledge and skills to live and work in modern society through the Australian Curriculum in all learning areas, (ACARA, 2013).
In the modern-day child’s life, they are being amerced into literacy and numeracy through technology. Some of the skills they now need to be an effective member of this world are the ability to collaborate, think critically, be an active communicator and problem solve. ACARA has devised six key ideas for both literacy and numeracy, which aim to teach students those skills.
These key ideas are what every student ideally needs to be successful in all areas of their life. Some of these key ideas are; comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing, composing texts through speaking, writing and creating, estimating and calculating whole numbers, and recognising and using patterns and relationships.
The new literacy demands: students are to be able to; read, listen to, speak, write, view and create oral, digital texts, print and visual as well as modify and use texts for a variety of situations, (Alberta Education, (a), n.d). Students have the ability to analyse, evaluate and understand information, deliver ideas, opinions, thoughts and emotions, and connect with peers, (Alberta Education, (a), n.d). Students must display an appropriate attitude towards learning to be successful, (Alberta Education, (a), n.d). Students must be able to identify the relevant literacies for the learning area, (Alberta Education, (a), n.d).
The new numeracy demands: students must identify and understand the importance of mathematics and be able to incorporate it usefully in their whole world not just in class, (Goos, Dole & Geiger, 2012).
With the new demands of literacy and numeracy in the ACARA, teachers are having to look at their pedagogies and are shifting from didactory pedagogies, which were originally developed by Dewey and Montessori, (Kalantzis & Cope, 2016). Educators are encouraged to incorporate subjects that are relevant to students’ everyday life, (Kalantzis & Cope, 2016).. This will motivate them to be completely immersed in their learning and development, in not just literacy and numeracy but in all areas of learning (Kalantzis & Cope, 2016).
References:
Alberta Government (a). (n.d), Literacy fact sheet. Retrieved from https://education.alberta.ca/media/3402193/lit-fact-sheet.pdf.
Alberta Government (b). (n.d), Numeracy fact sheet. Retrieved from https://education.alberta.ca/media/3402195/num-fact-sheet.pdf.
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. (2013), General capabilities information sheet. Retrieved from http://docs.acara.edu.au/resources/Information_Sheet_General_Capabilities.pdf.
Goos, M., Dole, S., & Geiger, V. (2012). Numeracy across the curriculum. Australian Mathematics Teacher, 68(1), 3–7.
Kalantzis, M. & Cope, B. (2016) Authentic Literacy Pedagogy: An Overview. retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT9psWTGXwY.
Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians. (2008). p. 8. Retrieved from http://www.curriculum.edu.au/verve/_resources/National_Declaration_on_the_Educational_Goals_for_Young_Australians.pdf.
Study ladder. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.studyladder.com.au/?lc_set