PROF ED 10 MODULE 1- PRELIMINARY

MODULE 1: Introduction to 21st Century Literacies

Learning Outcomes
 At the end of this chapter, you should be able to develop a clear and practical understanding of
the following:
o Definitions and conventional literacy and,
o Expanded views of literacy in the 21 st century

Introduction to 21st Century Literacies

Traditional and Conventional Literacy

Literacy is defined by dictionary as the state of being able to read and write. The word ‘literacy’
stems from the word ‘literate’, which first appeared in the 15 th century and is in turn derived from the
Latin word literatus, meaning ‘’ [a person] marked with letters’’ – that is ‘’distinguished’’ or identified by
letters’’- and it carried with its idea that such person was cultures and educated.

Miller [1973] divides this conventional concept of literacy into three sub – categories:
1. Basic Literacy – it is the ability to correspond visual shapes to spoken sounds in order to
decode written materials and translate them into oral language. Meaning it is the ability to
recognize letters and words.
2. Comprehension Literacy – it is the ability to understand the meaning of what being read.
3. Functional/Practical Literacy – it is the ability to read written material needed to perform
everyday vocational tasks.

Based on this conventional view of literacy, we notice two things foe reading to exist.
a. A text to be read, and
b. A meaning or message being communicated by the text for the reader to extract.
Without a text, there would be nothing to read: without meaning, the text is
reduced to series of incomprehensible doodles.

Expanded Views of Literacy

In 2004, UNESCO formally defined literacy as ‘’ ability to identify, understand, interpret, create,
communicate, and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts.
Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve their goals, to develop their
knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in their community and wider society.’’

Note that ‘’reading’’ does not appear in UNESCO’s definition of literacy. Instead, literacy has
taken on a definition more akin to ‘’knowing about something and what to do with it’’

This shift in the definition of literacy from ‘’reading and writing’’ to ‘knowledge’ is especially
important as we explore the ‘new literacies of the 21 st century that seem far- removed from the
contexts upon which conventional literacy is based.
 Literacy in the 21st Century

Three things have been critical in the rise of the new literacies:
1. Increased Reach – we are communicating with more people, from diverse cultures, across
vaster distance than ever before.
2. Increased means of communication – we are communicating in more ways and at faster
speeds than ever before.
3. Increased Breath of Content – we are communicating about more things than ever before.

SUMMARY:
 Traditional Literacy is the ability to read and write.
 The traditional or conventional concept of literacy can be divided into sub-categories:
a. Basic Literacy – which is the ability to recognize letters and words;
b. Comprehension Literacy- which is the ability to understand the meaning of what is being
read; and
c. Functional Literacy/Practical Literacy, which is the ability to read written materials needed to
perform everyday vocational tasks.
 Modern views of literacy equate it with knowledge.
 New Literacy have risen due to increased reach, increased means of communication, and
increased breath of content. These new literacies are globalization and multicultural literacy,
social and financial literacy, media and cyber digital literacy, ecoliteracy, artistic and creative
literacy, and critical literacy.

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:

1. Given the traditional/conventional concept of literacy, how literate are you?

2. As pre – service teacher, what kind of written materials should you be able to read and
understand? Are you reading these materials? How well can you understand them?
3. Which of the new literacies are you knowledgeable in? Which of the new literacies do you lack
knowledge in?
4. Compare and contrast the traditional concept of literacy to the modern view of literacy.

Chapter 2

Learning Outcomes
 At the end of this chapter, you should be able to develop a clear and practical understanding of
the following:
o Globalization and its implications on both national and individual levels;
o Cultural and multicultural literacy in the Philippines: and
o One’s personal level of cultural and multicultural literacy.

Globalization and Cultural and Multicultural Literacies

The Effects of Globalization

 Globalization is the process of interaction and integration between people, business entities,
governments, and culture from other nations, driven by international trade and investment and
supported by information technology.
The effects of globalization are multi-dimensional. Meyer [2000] summarizes the effects of
globalization as follows:

 Economic, political and military dependence and interdependence between nations;

 Expanded flow of individual people among societies;
 Interdependence of expressive culture among nations; and
 Expanded flow of instrumental culture around the world.
Cultural Literacy

Cultural Literacy is a term coined by Hirsch [1983], referring to the ability to understand the
signs and symbols of a given culture and being able to participate in its activities and customs as
opposed to simply being a passive observer. The sign and symbols of a culture include both its formal
and informal languages, its idioms and forms of expression, entertainment, values, customs, roles
traditions, and the like- most of which are assumed and unstated. Thus, they are learned by being part
of the culture, rather than by formal means.

- Cultural Literacy in the Philippines

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts [NCCA] is a government body tasked with
the documentation, preservation, and dissemination of the Philippines culture, both local
and abroad.

Part of how the NCCA is addressing this and related manner is through the establishment of
the Philippine Cultural Education Program [PCEP], which envisions a nation of culturally
literate and empowered Filipinos.

As a result of Republic Act 10066, PCEP has been designated as the body, together with the
Department of Education [Dep. Ed], tasked to ‘’formulate the cultural heritage education
program both local and overseas Filipinos’’ that are to be an integral part of Philippine
education in all its aspects.

Multicultural Literacy
As cultures begin to mix and change as a result of globalization, conflicts inevitably arise
identity, values and worldviews. This situation consequently needs for literacy that enables us to quickly
and easily identify and resolve such conflicts, preferably before they even begin. This has come to be
understood as multicultural literacy.
Multicultural Literacy as a set of skills and knowledge is difficult to define because of
how it changes depending on the context in which it is discussed. For example, multicultural literacy as
defined in American literature is different from it is deployed in a more European context.
In America, multicultural literacy has very strong leanings toward knowing or identifying
the poly-ethnic origins of knowledge with the express goal of fostering equality, diversity, and social
justice. This is in direct response to the ‘’Euro-centric’’ and ‘’white-dominant’’ traditions of education
that in the eyes of American cultural minorities [particularly the blacks] is a form of racial injustice.
Meanwhile, in Europe, multicultural literacy comes more in the form of intercultural
communication competence [ICC], which is defined by Dusi Messeti and Steinbach [2014] as a
composite skill, abilities, attitudes, personality patterns etc. necessary for clear and productive
communication with culture other than own. Similarly, Fantini [2006] defines it as ‘’ a complex of
abilities needed to perform effectively and appropriately when interacting with others who are
linguistically and culturally different from oneself.

We define multicultural literacy here as a knowledge and skills necessary to ensure that
any communication with a culture different from our own is clear, productive, and respectful such that
their differences are celebrated and neither culture is demeaned or treated as inferior.
It is important to realize that under this definition, a ‘’different culture’’ is not just
limited to ‘’someone from another country,’’ but could also include someone whose gender, economic
background, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or even sense of fashion is different from our own.

SUMMARY:
 Globalization is the process of interaction and integration between people, business entities,
governments, and culture from other nations, driven by international trade and investment and
supported by information technology.
 Cultural Literacy I the knowledge and understanding of the life of the culture to the point where
one can fluently participate in the activities of the said culture. This includes, but not limited to,
its language, traditions, values, beliefs, forms of entertainment and worldviews.
 Multicultural Literacy, is the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure that any communication
with a culture different from our own is clear, productive, and respectful such that their
differences are celebrated and neither culture is demeaned or treated as inferior.
 The skills and knowledge required to be multi-culturally literate are:
a. Selflessness
b. Knowledge that good and useful things can [and do] can from those different from us.
c. Willingness to compromise
d. Acceptance that there are limits; and
e. Idea that we cannot be friends with everyone

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:

1. Have you interacted with people who have a different culture from yours? How was your
interaction with them? Was it clear? Was it productive? Was it respectful? What could you have
done for a better interaction?
2. What is your attitude toward people who have different cultures from yours? Do you celebrate
how they are different from you? Do you look down on them?
3. What skills and knowledge do you need to improve in to become multi-culturally literate?
4. Why should you as an individual respect and value people who are different from you?
5. Describe GLOBALIZATION.

END OF MODULE 1