Landscapes of Specific Literacies in Contemporary Society by Duckworth, Vicky; Ade-Ojo, Gordon;

Short description:

The notion of what constitutes ‘literacy’ has shifted over time, from the de-coding of words where it is placed in the realm of an individual, cognitive skill to multiple literacies in the 21^st century. This volume makes a timely contribution to our understanding of literacy as a multi-faceted, complexly situated activity.

Long description:

This volume makes a timely contribution to our understanding of literacy as a multi-faceted, complexly situated activity. Each chapter provides the reader with a fresh perspective into a different site for literate behaviour, approaches, design and relationships, and offers an exploration into the use of literacy theories to inform policy and practice, particularly in regard to curriculum.

Bringing together international experts in the field, the contributing authors represent a wide variety of theoretical and research perspectives which cover literacy in various forms, including:

• transformative literacy
• survey literacy
• academic literacies
• information literacy in the workplace
• digital literacy.

Landscapes of Specific Literacies in Contemporary Society suggests that literacy curriculum needs to evolve from its current perspective if it is to cater for the demands of the 21st century contemporary globalised society. The book will be of key interest to researchers and academics in the fields of education, curriculum studies and the sociology of education, as well as to policy makers and literacy specialists.

"This is a book with a social conscience, as these highlights demonstrate. It is at its best when it links the ideology of its authors with real-life practice, as it does excellently in Duckworth’s chapter. As a whole, it is sometimes dense with theory, but it is energetic, exciting, at times radical, and ultimately accessible. It is an important book for anyone involved in post-compulsory education and for everyone who is concerned with social inclusion and pedagogy."-  Lucy Langley, Journal of Information Literacy, June 2015

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction: Is practice keeping pace with policy? Gordon Ade-Ojo and Vicky Duckworth  2. Towards a functional curriculum model of social literacy: literacy for specific purposes  Gordon Ade-Ojo  3. Literacy and Transformation Vicky Duckworth  4. Survey Literacy Mary Hamilton  5. Expanding the academic literacies frame: implications for understanding curriculum contexts in higher education Lynn Coleman and Mary R.Lea  6. Information Literacy in the workplace: generic and specific capabilities Mark Hepworth  7. Repurposing information literacy for the 21^st century John Crawford 8. Moving with the times: how mobile digital literacies are changing childhood Guy Merchant  9. (Afterword): Locating adult literacy education in new places David Barton