New+Literacies+Practices

= New Literacy Practices =

Multiliteracies can be defined in Hill (2012 p.361) as “to be literate in print-based and new communication technologies”. New literacy is a term coined to describe the new communication based practices; they encompass all technologies and digital media that are utilized for teaching and education in a classroom setting.

Six pre service teachers observed a literacy class, and below, table 1 examines what new literacy practices were observed during a literacy session, and how they were used.

Table 1. Use of technology in observed classes.

New London group argued that “Literacy pedagogy must now account for the burgeoning variety of text forms associated with information and multimedia technologies.” (1996) The new literacy practices observed by six different pre service teachers ranged from interactive white boards and televisions, desktops to iPods. The varieties of technologies were used for different reasons; however the main motive appeared to assist the educators’ time management. Computers were used to read stories, play games and for modelled reading, this replaces the teacher, or parent helpers and time is made available for other activities or assessment. The use of new literacy was employed by using an iPod to direct the learner’s attention to the set tasks. As an initiative to redirect an easily distracted learner, a plan of listening to music through an iPod was made specifically to cater to keeping the learner on task. All of the multiliteracies used within the observed sessions build on ongoing exposure which will “allow young children to negotiate a complex interplay of multiple sign systems, multiple modalities, and recursive communicative and cognitive processes.” (Hill 2012 p. 361)



Young literacy learners were interviewed and observed in their home environments by six pre service teachers, the results indicated how young learners are using digital technologies at home. Children enjoyed television to watch shows and movies; video games on the computer and iPad with a focus on searching youtube, listening to music and playing on apps; game consoles such as the Wii and playstation with specific mention of games children enjoyed, some of which were, sing star, Call of duty, and Mario karts.

An interesting clip on the history of technology within education

By Donna McDonald 211226877