What are the New Literacies?


The new literacies of online reading comprehension defines online reading comprehension as a problem-based inquiry process involving new skills and strategies required by the Internet as readers:

  • Identify important questions or problems
  • Locate information using search engines
  • Critically evaluate online resources for accuracy and reliability (visit Dr. Julie Coiro's site for ideas on how to teach this!)
  • Synthesize information across texts
  • Communicate information using email, blogs, instant messaging, wikis, Nings, social networking sites, and other media

Map of the World 2.0: 1001 Web 2.0 Logos
from-  http://www.appappeal.com/web-2-0-application-world-

Realistically, there is NO WAY we can be experts at all or even many of these technologies at once.  They change too quickly.  We can, however, tap resources available to us:  our students; or computer teachers; or media specialists...and troubleshoot and learn together.  Our computer experts can train a small group of our students (those who are not often the "experts" in more traditional curriculum.)  These students then become experts for all of us, teachers and students alike- supporting us as we learn together!  The classroom dynamics can and do change drastically when we put those who struggle in the role of expert/teacher for those who do not often encounter difficulties.  See the link below, "Students Teaching Students" for an example.






New literacies build on the foundational skills we've always taught and extends them in important ways. Using the Internet for a variety of purposes encourages students to apply knowledge flexibly to the ever-newer technologies that regularly emerge on the Internet.                                                                                                                                             
  1. The Internet and other ICTs are central technologies for literacy within a global community in an information age;
  2. The Internet and other ICTs require new literacies to fully access their potential; 
  3. New literacies are deictic;  
  4. The relationship between literacy and technology is transactional;  
  5. New literacies are multiple in nature;  
  6. Critical literacies are central to the new literacies; 
  7. New forms of strategic knowledge are central to the new literacies; 
  8. Speed counts in important ways within the new literacies; 
  9. Learning often is socially constructed within the new literacies; 
  10. Teachers become more important, though their role changes, within new literacy classrooms. 
Work with a partner to complete this set of three tasks using the Internet.
    While working on the three tasks, ask yourself what skills are the same as traditional reading? Which skills are unique to online reading?

Students Teaching Students what skills does this sort of classroom collaboration require?

Subpages (3): 2009 Agenda for STI Blogs Tootin Time