Return-Path: <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost.nifl.gov [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id OAA17384; Fri, 12 Dec 1997 14:52:51 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 14:52:51 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <19971212195349609.AAA179@[130.91.108.79]> Errors-To: lmann@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: hopey@literacy.upenn.edu (Chris Hopey) To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:109] Information Literacy X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 1.5 Status: RO This is an interesting discussion and I am not sure what I think anymore. When I first started in this business of literacy I was a purist. Literacy was about reading and writing and the misuse of the word really drove me crazy. I looked at literacy in a "technical sense" and believed that at some point there was a demarcation between being literate and "illiterate" (i.e. reading and writing). Perhaps I thought this was true only because of my inexperience and what others had told me in formal settings such as college. However, my thinking on this "misuse" has begun to change as a I spend more time working in and thinking about literacy and technology. I now view literacy as more of a moving target and thus I have become more open to the "technical" definition. This isn't to say I agree with the terms such as physical literacy, but I do think that the mainstreaming of the definition isn't as bad as it first appears. What do members of the list think about terms like visual literacy, technological literacy, media literacy, and so forth? Are such terms appropriate in the information age? I think they may be? Plus do we really have any control over such things? Perhaps events like the Literacy Summit will provide a forum to discuss such definitions? Thanks Christopher E. Hopey Senior Researcher National Center on Adult Literacy/ International Literacy Institute Graduate School of Education University of Pennsylvania 3901 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-3111 PH: 215-898-2100 FAX: 215-898-9804 http://www.literacyonline.org Peggy Lewis wrote: >Why is this called information "literacy" when there is so little reference >to actual reading and writing? Why not "knowledge" or "use" of >"familiarity" or something that more accurately expresses the idea? > >It is not my intention to pick on this one usage, but to try to call >attention to the widespread misuse of the term. Doesn't "computer >literacy" really attempt to describe the ability to use a computer that >goes way beyond reading and writing with and about the machnes? > >I once saw the term "physical literacy" which at first I took to mean >Braille. I later found out that the term referred to the ability to look at >a map and locate an office. Confusing. > >Peggy Lewis >Elk Grove Adult Educationph ph (916)874-1817) >Sacramento, CA fax(916)448-5021 >mlewis@egusd.k12.ca.us
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