For people living in print culture societies, like Australia, literacy is a tool for engaging (in a variety of contexts) a diversity of communication contexts in order to participate in the contexts in life in increasingly informed basis (Lian, Lecture 1). The most common definition of literacy is having the ability to read, write and understand a subject. However, in our ever-growing society, literacy involves much more than just the simple definition; technology has developed the definition to include so much more. ACARA defines literacy as ‘confident communicators, imaginative thinkers and informed citizens’ and the ability to ‘analyse, understand, communicate with and build relationships with others and with the world around them (ACARA, 2014).’ These definitions often reflect and determine if someone is literate. As such, an ability to communicate effectively allows us to expand our literacy abilities. ‘It is important to have accurate literacy skills when communicating, to ensure the receiver of a message receives the correct perspective of the message and can respond appropriately (Simpson & Wigglesworth, 2008)’.
Logan Laplante says that ‘creativity is as important as literacy and we should treat it with the same status (Laplante, 2013)’. Laplante’s talk basically explains that when he learns about things he enjoys, in this case skiing, he enjoys learning and is more motivated to achieve; he has called this technique “Hack-schooling”. To be creative is to be literate; creativity influences literacy. As such, Maryanne Wolf of Tufts University's Center for Reading and Language Research states, ‘our human brain was never born to read” therefore ‘if the brain was never meant to read, it means it has to form this whole circuit anew, with every child that’s ever born on the earth (Wolf, 2010).’ Creativity and pure human abilities are the foundation in which we develop literacy abilities.
Personal capabilities
Personal literacy is gained from a person’s own reflections and experiences within literacy. A person will draw on their own ideas to interpret, share and understand an aspect (Lian, Lecture 2, semester 1, 2015).
Social capabilities
Literacy within a social aspect means to engage within different contexts and understanding the relationship between contexts. To engage and understand these social contexts, people learn to read more than the outside of a situation and will analyse and evaluate information whilst communicating.
Cultural capabilities
Cultural literacy depends on the ability to engage with personal and social literacy, as a person will draw on these aspects to communicate within a different culture. Literacy is culturally framed and defined; therefore, members of different cultures will differ in their view of literate behaviour and may influence how people engage in literacy acquisition and activity (Fredman 1990).
Logan Laplante says that ‘creativity is as important as literacy and we should treat it with the same status (Laplante, 2013)’. Laplante’s talk basically explains that when he learns about things he enjoys, in this case skiing, he enjoys learning and is more motivated to achieve; he has called this technique “Hack-schooling”. To be creative is to be literate; creativity influences literacy. As such, Maryanne Wolf of Tufts University's Center for Reading and Language Research states, ‘our human brain was never born to read” therefore ‘if the brain was never meant to read, it means it has to form this whole circuit anew, with every child that’s ever born on the earth (Wolf, 2010).’ Creativity and pure human abilities are the foundation in which we develop literacy abilities.
Personal capabilities
Personal literacy is gained from a person’s own reflections and experiences within literacy. A person will draw on their own ideas to interpret, share and understand an aspect (Lian, Lecture 2, semester 1, 2015).
Social capabilities
Literacy within a social aspect means to engage within different contexts and understanding the relationship between contexts. To engage and understand these social contexts, people learn to read more than the outside of a situation and will analyse and evaluate information whilst communicating.
Cultural capabilities
Cultural literacy depends on the ability to engage with personal and social literacy, as a person will draw on these aspects to communicate within a different culture. Literacy is culturally framed and defined; therefore, members of different cultures will differ in their view of literate behaviour and may influence how people engage in literacy acquisition and activity (Fredman 1990).