GED3816

New literacy studies

Associate Professor M Gill and Mr P W Richardson

12 points - 3 hours per week - Second semester - Clayton - Distance

Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should have developed knowledge and critical understanding of: the concept of literacy and the variable sociohistorical, political and cultural contexts that determine how the concept is defined and understood; the contested nature of literacy studies as an area of study in the curriculum and the reasons for this; the different and competing public formulations of literacy curricula in state and national documents. Students should have opportunities to develop their own theoretical position in relation to prescribed readings and to analyse current literacy policy and curriculum documents.

Synopsis This subject is designed to examine major contemporary issues in relation to literacy studies in school, workplace and community settings. It examines the concept of literacy and considers how understandings and definitions of the concept have evolved over time, why the term is so often associated with 'crisis' and how recent studies of literacy as a set of social practices provide important insights into the teaching and uses of literacy in different social contexts. Students will have the opportunity to examine different public curriculum formulations of literacy and recent approaches to language studies, and their relevance for different literacy contexts. This is a core subject for the Master of Education (literacy studies) degree.

Assessment For on-campus students, assessment will be based upon two short class presentations (1000 words each): 30% - Major assignment (4000 words): 70% - For distance students, assessment will be based on assignments only

Recommended texts

An updated list will be provided at the commencement of the subject.

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