This document provides definitions and descriptions of various types of traditional and 21st century literacies. It begins by defining traditional literacies such as functional, media, religious, financial, computer, legal, scientific, health, and civic literacies. It then discusses early and emergent literacies including oral language, print awareness, book knowledge, alphabet knowledge, and phonological awareness. The document continues by describing basic literacy skills like phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. It concludes by outlining 21st century literacies including globalization and multicultural literacy, social literacy, media literacy, financial literacy, cyber/digital literacy, eco-literacy, and arts and creativity literacy.

1. EDUC 110: Building and
Enhancing New
Literacies Across the
Curriculum

2. MODULE 1

3. LESSON 1
Definitions of Traditional Literacies

4. TRADITIONAL LITERACY
 the integration of listening, speaking, reading, writing and
critical thinking
 cultural knowledge which enables a speaker, writer or reader to
recognize and use language appropriate
 it means being able to access written work in such a way as to
achieve a level of understanding that allows for critical thinking
 to writing in such a way that both evinces this critical thinking
and allows for a high level of understanding for the audience

5. FUNCTIONAL LITERACY
 the practical skill set needed to read, write, and do math
KINDS OF FUNCTIONAL LITERACY
MEDIA LITERACY is the ability to access, evaluate, and create
messages through different types of media. Its purpose is to
turn people from mass consumers into thoughtful citizens who
aren’t susceptible to propaganda or advertising.

6. RELIGIOUS LITERACY is the ability to interpret religious scriptures and
communicate with different faiths. Religious literacy is important for
combating fundamentalism (e.g., religious fanaticism) and prejudice
(e.g., Islamophobia).
FINANCIAL LITERACY is the ability to manage finances and make
decisions about money. Whether you’re a consumer, a business owner, or
a voter, understanding financial budgets, interest rates, and savings is an
essential life skill.
COMPUTER LITERACY is the ability to use computers. This skill set can
range from basic competency (i.e., using applications like email and
Microsoft Office) to advanced knowledge (e.g., programming and
computer science).

7. LEGAL LITERACY is the ability to comprehend laws so you are able to
follow policies and legal procedures.
Scientific Literacy does not necessarily mean memorizing facts; rather,
it’s knowing how to conduct experiments and identify evidence that
supports or contradicts preconceived beliefs or hypotheses.
HEALTH LITERACY is the ability to understand healthcare information,
particularly for making medical decisions or lifestyle choices about
nutrition, exercise, sleep, and other factors that affect physical and
mental well-being.
CIVIC LITERACY (a.k.a. Civics) is awareness of how government works
as well as your rights and responsibilities as a citizen and voter.

8. EARLY LITERACY/ EMERGENT LITERACY
 to “what children know about reading and writing before they
actually learn to read and write”
 literacy development begins at birth, gradually develops over
time, and must be nurtured

9. EMERGENT LITERACY KNOWLEDGE AREAS
ORAL LANGUAGE: children’s ability to understand and use
language through listening, speaking and acquiring new
vocabulary.
PRINT AWARENESS: children’s understanding of the functions
of printed symbols (letters, words and pictures) and of printed
text, and how it relates to meaning.

10. BOOK KNOWLEDGE: children’s understanding of what a book is
and how it is to be used or read (related to having exposure to
books and print-rich environments)
ALPHABET KNOWLEDGE: children’s ability to identify and say the
names of letters in an alphabet. This skill paves the way for
phonological awareness.
PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS: children’s ability to identify and
manipulate sounds and the understanding that sounds (and letter)
are combined to make words.

11. BASIC LITERACY AND SKILLS
PHONEMIC AWARENESS
 Ability to hear identify, manipulate, and substitute phonemes (the
smallest units of sound that can differentiate meaning) in spoken
words
PHONICS
 ability to understand that there is a predictable relationship between
phonemes (sounds) and graphemes (the letters that represent those
sounds in written language) in order to associate written letters with
the sounds of spoken language.

12. FLUENCY
ability to read text accurately, quickly, and expressively, either
to oneself or aloud.
VOCABULARY
 The growing, stored compilation of words that students
understand and use in their conversation (oral vocabulary) and
recognize in print (reading vocabulary).
COMPREHENSION
 ability to understand, remember, and make meaning of what
has been read.

13. LESSON 2
The 21st Century Literacies and Skills

14. A. GLOBALIZATION AND MULTI-CULTURAL
LITERACY
MULTICULTURAL LITERACY
 the skills and ability to identify the creators of knowledge and their
interests to uncover the assumptions of knowledge, to view
knowledge from diverse ethnic and cultural perspective, and to use
knowledge to guided action that will create a humane and just world.
 brings attention to diversity, equity and social justice to foster cultural
awareness by addressing difficult issues like discrimination and
oppression towards other ethnicities.

15. A. GLOBALIZATION AND MULTI-CULTURAL
LITERACY
GLOBAL LITERACY
 aims to address issues of globalization, racism, diversity and social
justice
 requires awareness and action, consistent with a broad
understanding of humanity, the planet, and the impact of human
decision on both
 aims to empower students with knowledge and take action to make a
positive impact in the world and their local community

16. According to the Ontario Ministry of Education (2015) A
global citizen should display most or all of the following
characteristics:
 Respect for humans no matter their race, gender, religion
or political perspectives.
 Respect for diversity and various perspectives.
 Promoting sustainable patterns of living,
consumption, and production
 Appreciate the natural world and demonstrate
respectful towards the rights of all living things.

17. According to the Ontario Ministry of Education (2015) A
global citizen should display most or all of the following
characteristics:
 Respect for humans no matter their race, gender, religion
or political perspectives.
 Respect for diversity and various perspectives.
 Promoting sustainable patterns of living,
consumption, and production
 Appreciate the natural world and demonstrate
respectful towards the rights of all living things.

18. B. SOCIAL LITERACY
 is a students’ successful performance and understanding of
social Skills, organizational skills, and communication skills
 ability to connect effectively with those around them
 ability to communicate and voice opinions and thoughts, as
well as listening to opinions and thoughts of others

19. C. MEDIA LITERACY
 the ability to identify different types of media and understand the
messages they're sending
MedLit. is an essential skill in the digital age, it helps children to:
1. Learn to think critically
2. Become a smart consumer of products and information
3. Recognize point of view
4. Create media responsibly
5. Identify the role of media in our culture
6. Understand the author's goal
7. Exchange of ideas
8. Asking specific questions and backing up opinions

20. D. FINANCIAL LITERACY
 the ability to understand how money works: how someone makes,
manages and invests it, and also expends it (especially when one
donates to charity) to help others.
E. CYBER/DIGITAL LITERACY
 the ability to use computer technologies effectively and to
simultaneously understand the implications of those actions
 the ability to use information and communication technologies to
find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring
both cognitive and technical skills

21. F. ECO-LITERACY (David W. Orr )
 the ability to understand the natural systems that make life on earth
possible
 to be ecoliterate means understanding the principles of organization
of ecological communities (i.e. ecosystems) and using those principles
for creating sustainable human communities
G. ARTS & CREATIVITY LITERACY
 is a concept that looks beyond sitting with a book.
 is a “holistic” approach, in that it incorporates activities that can
strengthen reading skills, but are more focused on broader learning

22. Example activities include:
 Book Art – the creation of artist books that incorporate text to
communicate stories, emotions, aspirations or ideas.
 Signwriting and murals – creating large-scale typography and text to
communicate key messages around a chosen theme. For example, a
playground mural that describes positive attitudes towards learning.
 Illustrated books or stories – creating original illustrated or
photographic stories that bring together visuals and text.
 Working from artworks – using original artworks as a stimulus for
literacy, the creation of narrative, characters, dialogue and story-
making. Link your project to your Bow Arts studio or gallery visit.

23.  Letter and word recognition – an alphabet series with illustrated
objects, displayed in the classroom, around school or playground.
Work on painted panels, banners or flags.
 Animation + Film – stop frame animations that support literacy
through the creation of narratives, storyboards and scripting.
Children learn how to develop scripts, before recording their
dialogue to accompany their film. Films can be linked to any
classroom topic, or a reinterpretation of a story or poem.