Literacy in the 21st Century
Literacy in the twenty-first century is an evolving version of traditional literacy that has been greatly influenced by the digital world. Just like how education and teaching mature with the world, literacy must mature as well. In general, literacy is a measure of the effectiveness of one’s communication skills, the definition of traditional literacy has been influenced by the digital world, and the meaning of literacy in the twenty-first century is constantly evolving.
Digital literacy is the measure of your online etiquette, how well you determine the value of resources, and your ability to problem solve when technology fails. When online, the way you communicate is different than how you would in person. There is also a lot of anonymity online which results in people cyberbullying and “trolling” others online. Cyberbullying is a real problem in schools and among teens today because some people feel like they can say whatever they’d like without repercussions. This problem can be seen in the data collected by Duggan (2018) with the PEW Research Center that says 41% of US adults have experienced some kind of harassment online.
Similarly, trolling is making comments online with the hopes of upsetting someone. With the onset of these sorts of activities and interactions online, digital literacy now encompasses how you use all these online resources. If you are responsible and respectful on social media then you are more digitally literate than someone who is disrespectful or crude. However, if you spam people online or troll, you have a lot of digital literacy that is still obtainable. Furthermore, digital literacy also includes how well you can determine value in resources. If you find yourself being fooled by websites raising money for fake organizations or believe that Abraham Lincoln said, “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.” then you have some weaknesses in your digital literacy.
There is a lot of common sense needed to have a lot of digital literacy. How well you can problem solve online says a great deal about how much digital literacy you have. Anyone who has been online has had connectivity issues. How well you can overcome these issues is a big part of digital literacy. This kind of problem-solving means having a backup plan and knowing when to metaphorically punt. All of these aspects, online etiquette, determining value, and problem-solving all decide digital literacy levels.
While literacy used to be the ability to read and write, literacy now refers to communication in all of its forms. This change in definition has come with a change in the way education is viewed. Historically you either were literate or illiterate, either educated or uneducated. Now with technology and the ease of access to information it is more possible for people to be actively seeking literacy and education. No longer is a school or library the only place to learn, now you can watch YouTube videos from your couch that teach you how to do differential calculus or how to speak French. The way that technology has changed has impacted the way literacy is viewed. The new way of viewing literacy also includes a new meaning of a text. According to Cooper (2001), there are six distinct types of text: wordless books, predictable texts, controlled high-frequency vocabulary texts, decodable texts, authentic literature, and created, easy-to-read texts. These different types of text include pictures, symbols, and even sheet music as well as traditional written text. This new way of considering text enforces the notion that literacy is more about communication than just reading and writing. Thinking of text as more than just words helps to understand the way in which reading, writing, and even speaking is taught. With more options in texts, there are more opportunities for teachers to differentiate and support student reading skills. With a broader understanding of text there is a broader understanding of literacy, and in turn, we move away from the dichotomy of literate/illiterate and begin to see literacy as something to seek throughout life. Because the world is always changing, the way we see literacy must also change with it.
As previously stated, digital media and literacy are intertwined. This interplay between people and the digital world results in an ever-changing definition of literacy. It can be said that literacy in the twenty-first century has been changed by the increased access to the internet. There is still a lingering question: Is society changing the way we interact with technology or is technology changing the way society interacts with itself? The answer is most likely yes to both, but the way we view literacy is definitely influenced by both society and technology. The way that digital literacy and traditional literacy interact is made evident by Rowsell & Burke (2009), “When one comes to understand the design inherent in digital texts, one comes closer to bridging this gap between the digital realm of literacy and the traditional.” (p. 117). Media’s impact alone is massive, social media and news media keep us connected 24/7. While social media can be an outlet for the shy and underrepresented, as previously stated, it can be a place for harassment and ill-will. News media also has problems online including the plague of “fake news” and a lack of oversight. When news outlets online are expected to break news first, there is no time for fact-checking or editing which results in false reports being spread quickly. These shortcomings of online media force society to reassess what it means to be literate online which in turn changes how we see literacy in a classroom. As long as means of communication changes, the definition of literacy will change with it.
In conclusion, literacy will always be a measure of the effectiveness of one’s communication skills. However, it is important to remember that the meaning of literacy is constantly evolving, the definition of traditional literacy has been influenced by the digital world, and digital literacy is a specialized aspect of literacy. As long as new methods of communication are being introduced to the world, new aspects of literacy will be introduced as well.
References
Cooper, J., Dr. (2001). Using Different Types of Texts for Effective Reading Instruction [PDF]. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Don’t Believe Everything You Read on the Internet Abraham Lincoln | Abraham Lincoln Meme on me.me. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2018, from https://me.me/i/dont-believe-everything-you-read-on-the-internet-abraham-lincoln-3068550
Duggan, M. (2018, January 03). Online Harassment 2017 | Pew Research Center. Retrieved September 22, 2018, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2017/07/11/online-harassment-2017/
Rowsell, J., & Burke, A. (2009). Reading by design: Two case studies of digital reading practices. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 53(2), 106–118.
