Literacy is so much more than just reading and writing skills. Often times teachers take a very conservative road when it comes to how their students should be learning. Nonetheless, literacy is always changing especially in these modern times. Students shouldn’t be learning in the same way they learned forty years ago. The reality is that times have changed. Sooner or later teachers are going to have to get familiar with the technology their students use on a daily basis, because it isn’t going anywhere. However, this shouldn’t be something to be afraid of, teachers should instead learn to embrace it. After all, it will help them better connect with their students.
One of the first steps to prepare teachers for multiple literacy is a broader understanding. For example, teachers should recognize that there are many forms of literacy, and that literacy is a social practice. Additionally, teachers should recognize that literacy instruction in school should connect to outside of school. Somehow the teacher should relate lessons or assessments to their students’ needs or life situations or interests. In the real world, researchers have sought out literacy practices in multiple settings like the home, community programs and after school in general, to better understand students’ multiple literacies. A couple of things they examined were instant messaging and digital storytelling. This type of research could be useful for a teacher. One of the ways a teacher could showcase their new understanding of multiple literacies would be by redesigning their curriculum to provide more visual texts or to try analyzing movies along with texts. Ultimately, the world is evolving and teachers must keep up in order to ensure the success of their students.
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