Learning Literacies: It's Time to Connect!

What is meant by the term Global Literacy?

According to Kathy Schrock, global literacy is the skill-set that incorporates the use of twenty-first century skills and tools for understanding and addressing issues that have global impact.

Aside from an official definition of global literacy, what does this look like in a 21st century classroom? How am I as a future educator able to integrate global literacy? What challenges will I be presented with?

Before I try to make sense of such questions, I think it is essential to reflect on my own experiences with global literacy as a student. When I was in grade two, my teacher assigned the students a "heritage project" where we were responsible for providing information about our cultural roots on a creative bristol board. The heritage day was held in the gym, and some students, including myself, asked my Mati (meaning Grandma in Slovenia) to bake her homemade bread and desserts. As I reflect on the experience, not only was it a fun and engaging activity, but it also allowed students to learn about different cultures.

I had a similar experience in Grade 11 American History. My teacher allowed us to have an American Civil War "potluck experience" utilizing primary source recipes from the mid-nineteenth century. Each of us paired with another student in the class, created the dish and brought it in at the end of the week.

This brings me to another area of interest... Media Literacy

Media literacy is the study of various forms of media texts and the implications these images, graphics, television shows and messages have on our lives. According to Ontario Curriculum documents media literacy involves understanding how media texts are constructed. 

How will future educators utilize computers, iPads and cellphones to integrate various media outlets? Will I integrate blogs, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to keep students engaged? 

In my Grade 11 American History class, the student teacher assigned a task that allowed students to create their own Facebook template. Students were required to pick a nineteenth century United States President and perform research on the figure. Once research was collected, students were able to create a mock Facebook page for the person, that included pictures, friends they would have interacted with, and what they were involved in at the time (Wars, Policies, etc.) Not only does the assignment integrate media skills, but the class could also connect to another class in the world doing a similar project (exchange ideas, Facebook page). 

The following is an image of how the historical figures assignment would look: 

(Permission to use image).

There is one more form of literacy that was not only new to me, but really caught my interest, that is: Character Education!

According to Ontario Curriculum Documents, Character Development is "the deliberate effort to nurture the universal attributes upon which schools and communities find consensus. These attributes provide a standard for behaviour against which we hold ourselves accountable. They permeate all that happens in schools. They bind us together across the lines that often divide us in society. They form the basis of our relationships and of responsible citizenship."

Aside from a formal definition, I wanted to look into how character development may look in the classroom. I wondered, what kind of values are being emphasized in classrooms? What isn't? 

The following is a video of a program called Who is Nobody? that has been used in Ontario schools for the past few years.  Who is Nobody? is a literacy-based character building project that encourages kids to do a good deed for their community and then report back with details about what they did. Nobody is eventually turned into a Somebody when each child dresses it with something that represents their positive action.



...But perhaps there is something out there that is not in the curriculum or in a an educational program/package that will help students be successful not only academically, but in all aspects of life.

I will end this blog with the following Ted Talks video featuring Angela Lee Duckworth regarding "Grit": 






Perhaps there are many values, skills, and concepts to learn that are beyond the curriculum... What will your students learn? Grit? Technology Manners? Leadership skills? 

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." Mark Twain




Educational concepts referenced from: 

Drake, S.M. & Reid, J.L. & Kolohon, W. (2014). Interweaving curriculum and classroom assessment: Engaging the 21 Century Learner. Toronto, ON: Oxford University Press.

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/reports/literacy/booklet2008.pdf

http://www.whoisnobody.com