Despite the wide distribution of educational institutions and the availability of all kinds of information, the problem of literacy exists in modern times.
Definition
Literacy is the level of knowledge and skills in a particular area, as well as the ability to put them into practice. The degree of mastery of a given subject determines the level of accessibility of certain information to a person.
Initially, the concept of literacy was used to determine the level of knowledge of reading and writing according to the norms of the native language. In the modern world, this concept has acquired a broader meaning and is now used to denote high-level knowledge in other fields of activity. There are such concepts as economic, legal, psychological, technological and scientific literacy.
Information awareness
Literacy is one of the most pressing issues in the current educational system. It implies not only the ability to find the necessary information, but also the ability to navigate in an infinite information flow, analyze and synthesize the knowledge gained, benefiting and applying them in practice.
In many European secondary and higher educational institutions, the educational system is different from ours. The main difference is in teaching students to use information, rather than taking notes and memorizing. Of course, the development of memory is equally important. However, according to such an education system, it is important not only to learn the material, but also to learn how to draw conclusions and conclusions on your own, find alternative solutions, see the relationship between different at first glance subjects of discussion, conduct a discussion, reinforcing your statements with logical arguments, and so on.
Varieties
Educational research activities include the following types of literacy:
- Literacy reading and writing.
- Possession of information media (computers and other gadgets).
- The ability to benefit from the telecommunications sector.
- Media literacy.
- Informational.
The last paragraph combines the previous ones and is the key. In the 21st century, one must be able to cope with the information flow and possess the ability to quickly find, perceive and transmit knowledge in a particular area.
Computer skills
This term was first proposed by the president of the Information Industry Association, Paul Zurkowski. This concept can be described as the ability to use a set of knowledge and computer skills to solve certain problems, plan various actions and anticipate their consequences. Since at present time information technology is an integral part of society, the ability to use computers has become no less important than writing and reading skills. This knowledge can significantly accelerate the process of finding the necessary information in any field of science, art, culture or technology. Such technologies have greatly facilitated the interaction of a person with a continuous information flow.
Network literacy
This concept is closely interconnected with the previous paragraph. Communication through the Internet has become an integral part of social activities. This type of communication involves not only communication, but also the cognitive process. In addition to personal computer skills and the ability to work correctly with information, it is equally important to develop critical thinking.
Cultural level
Anyone who has traveled abroad must have noticed that often just knowing a foreign language is not enough to fully understand the locals. This is due to the cultural and social characteristics of each country. Any language is not just a dry set of lexical units and grammatical rules, but a living system that is constantly evolving through interaction with other cultures. You cannot perfectly master a foreign language, knowingly excluding the history, cultural experience and social norms of the country. Cultural literacy is not just about getting to know a wide range of basic knowledge. This is the freedom of their use. Therefore, cultural literacy is a concept that includes not only communication skills according to the rules of a particular language, but also a host of other knowledge. This is etiquette, the ability to use figurative speech (idioms, metaphors, phraseological units), knowledge of traditions and customs, folklore, the moral and moral side, and much more.
Psychological literacy
This area includes all kinds of communication skills: the ability to establish contact, object, criticize, lead a discussion, persuade, and speak to the public. In general, this includes everything related to issues of relationships and sociability.
How to increase spelling literacy
There is an opinion that the ability to write correctly is innate. However, contrary to a common misconception, the acquisition of this skill is available to everyone. The best way is to start the child’s intellectual development from an early age. Then the cognitive process will take place easily and naturally.
The child’s first educational activity is based on imitation of the speech of others, therefore it is very important to create an enabling environment. Certain speech skills are formed thanks to parents: the ability to correctly place stress in words, build sentences, find suitable phrases in each case and clearly communicate. Therefore, it is very important to communicate with the child as much as possible, to read aloud tales and poems. A little later, when he learns to read on his own, the correct spelling of words and phrases with repeated repetition will be delayed in memory. In addition, there are various intellectual and logical games.
Reasons for illiteracy
Compared to the recent past, it has now become much easier to search for any information. Almost everyone has the opportunity to use computer programs that track spelling errors and typos, to find all kinds of textbooks, dictionaries and reference books. Nevertheless, the problem of literacy remains relevant to this day.
There are several reasons for the low level of knowledge of the native language:
- No need for reading. Books are increasingly being replaced by other entertainments: watching all kinds of television shows, series, computer games and more. And any information can be found on the Internet. This threatens not only general illiteracy, but also a decrease in the intellectual level, and a deterioration in creative thinking.
- Reading substandard literature. Over the past decades, more and more entertaining literature has begun to appear, in which, in addition to the lack of useful information, one can meet a lot of spelling, grammar and stylistic errors.
- Chatting in Internet. Slangs, abbreviations and careless use of spelling are often found in various chats and forums. A similar style can become a habit. Unfortunately, for some people, literacy is something that can be dispensed with in everyday life.
Intellectual games and entertainment for children
So that the educational process does not seem to the child painful, it is necessary to conduct training in a playful way:
- Crosswords. No doubt this kind of intellectual entertainment helps to increase vocabulary. In addition to the usual crosswords with lists of word assignments, there are those in which questions are presented in the form of pictures. This game will help your child learn to perceive and transmit information.
- Various oral word games: selection of rhyme, city, search for a word beginning with a certain syllable, and so on.
- Games on paper: make as many short words as possible from one long one, “Snake”, where each subsequent word begins with the last letter or syllable of the previous one, “Field of Miracles”, “Confusion” - a game in which you need to collect a word from mixed cards with letters .
- Board games: "Scrubble" and the Russian version of "Scrabble".
- Learning the rules in a playful way. Thus, literacy examples are much easier to remember:
- "not wonderful, not beautiful, but dangerous and terrible: to write the letter t in vain";
- "either, something, something, here - do not forget the hyphen";
- "already unbearable." - It is also very useful to develop visual memory. You can offer your child the following exercises: find ten differences between the two pictures, show several patterns on a piece of paper, and then ask them to reproduce what they saw from memory.
Older children can already offer independent compilation of crosswords, as well as writing essays, short stories and poems. This will significantly increase the intellectual level of the child, help develop imagination and imaginative thinking.
It is also very important in the process of communication to eliminate possible speech errors: to correctly use and combine words and phrases (for example, to dress and put on), to emphasize words (ringing, cakes) and more.
If any words cause difficulties, you can create a personal dictionary for writing out difficult lexical units. Then with these words you can carry out small dictations. Another idea is a game in the style of "insert a missed letter." Repeated repetition will help bring the correct spelling of words to automatism.
Literacy is a skill that can be easily acquired or developed, but classes should be regular. Of course, the school will offer a large number of various exercises for phonetic, morphological and syntactic analysis. Because at home it is undesirable to duplicate such activities. It is best to instill a child with a love of literature, offering him various genres, and conduct the educational process in a playful way. The main thing is that training takes place at ease.
The value of literature
Improving literacy is an important part of the educational process. Of course, memorization of the rules and norms of the mother tongue with the subsequent consolidation of the material in practice plays an important role. However, this may not be enough. Those who seek to improve their perception and presentation of thoughts should pay particular attention to reading various literature. It is best to give priority to those authors who are fluent in the word and colorfully describe what is happening. Reading good books helps to develop eloquence, imaginative thinking, the ability to penetrate the essence of things.
Intuitive literacy
This concept implies the ability of a person to correctly express thoughts in accordance with the norms of his native language, despite the fact that he does not know the rules. This kind of ability usually develops in people who have read a lot. The spelling, punctuation system and stylistic features of the language are stored in memory. In addition, reading people develop good logical thinking, eloquence and the ability to philosophical reasoning.
The role of literacy in society
Of course, a person who knows how to express his own thoughts correctly does not suffer from tongue-tied tongue, expresses himself in accordance with the stylistic norms of his native language and writes without errors, has a much greater chance of receiving a prestigious education, and then finding a good job. General cultural awareness is no less important than professional education.
Literacy is hard to overestimate. This is one of the most important criteria that distinguishes a primitive and uneducated society from a progressive one. According to the UNESCO World Organization, a high level of proficiency in oral and written speech plays a key role in basic education, the victory over poverty and the sustainable development of society.