William Cope
Reda Sadki
May Thet Khine Nyein
Eugenia Arvanitis
Pinakini Shah
Jonathan deHaan
Alessandra Coutinho Fernandes
Ketan HeinLiteracy Teaching and Learning MOOC’s Updates
Section 2a: Literacies for Work
In this section of the Literacies learning module, we are going to examine the purposes of literacies. First: literacies for work. In the industrial economies of the twentieth century, most jobs were low skilled, and few workers needed more than basic literacy. However, today, we work in a context that is sometimes called the 'knowledge economy'. This demands higher and different levels of literacy to be effective in a wide range of jobs, including multimodal communications that include image and other modes, as well as text, and interaction with digital information and communication devices.
To explore these themes further, read the texts in the 'Literacies for Work' section of our supporting materials website.
Comment: How have workplaces changed over the past century, and what are the implications for literacy learning?
In the workplace, people use effective means of communication such as Skype, WhatsApp, emails, Google Meet, besides the telephone, which allows them to accomplish any task at any part of the world within minimum time, although modern work does not mean being online only. It also means having flexible working hours, which includes having no fixed schedule from 8am to 5pm or established workdays as Mondays to Fridays; and mental health awareness with the help of online couching, yoga exercises and YouTube chants. According to Work.Life (https://work.life/blog/modern-working-practices), a company specialized in modern offices, people nowadays are not looking for being kept closed in an office for too long while working as staying at the same company for many years. They are looking for acquiring knowledge, team bonding and social gatherings as a work practice as well, even if that means changing jobs few times. But how does it implicate for literacies pedagogy?
As strategies to be followed, we can infer that encouraging digital literacy would involve reading ebooks or computer files for technical knowledge, using apps (in cellphones or in their laptops) for fast communication and making connections with contemporary conditions for meaning-making for corporative training skills or coworker meetings, as stated by Cambridge website (available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/abs/literacies/literacies-pedagogy). Studies show us the abilities and skills that we may develop through literacy practices in simple actions such as sending emails or participating in online meetings.
Concerning to school, teachers and students can work on such skills once assignments can be accomplished being sent by the institutional email or through Google Forms as well as using websites to prepare school presentations or online poster. Because of lockdown due to the pandemic between 2020 and 2021, children had to learn how to study and research without leaving their own home, having no social contact besides their own family and manage to do homework, so this online communicative skill proved to be necessary not only at work but also among scholars.
After World War II, literacy was associated with economic development in both industrialized and developing countries (Barton, 2007). Frederick Taylor’s principles of scientific management were adopted by many countries in their workplaces and also in the field of education (Gowen, 2007). This led to segregation in skills development due to standardised tests with students who didn’t score well getting more lower-paid employment and those who scored well getting more skilled and higher-paid jobs (Gowen, 2007). From the late 20th century to the present, there has been a shift in the skills employers hope to have in their employees, which again changes the goals of education. This shift is from having low-skilled workers following rigid protocols and behaviours to flexible workers (Sennett, 1998) who can think critically and creatively, and take initiative and risks to problem-solve (Wagner, 2008). A strong company culture with a focus on strong social relationships and skilful problem-solving becomes the core of the success of a company (Peters, Waterman, Robert, 1984). All of these changes then impact the educational systems and their goals as educational institutions now need to adapt to these changes and provide education that helps them build these skills in their students (Wagner, 2008).
Success in today's workplace goes beyond reading and writing. Digital literacy lets us navigate technology, while data literacy helps analyze information. Communication skills ensure clear messages, and cultural awareness fosters teamwork. These workplace literacies are essential for navigating the modern work environment.
According to historical history, systems that identified the best practices for child rearing had an impact on child protection and removal (Fejo - King, 2015). According to Coles (2013), social workers' acts of wickedness were the result of this social control. Some of the elements from these types of social control are still present in modern child protection legislation (Meiners, 2016).
Due to the so-called stolen generation, social work has historically been linked to oppression in Australia when it comes to issues of child protection and removal (Chenoweth & McAuliffe, 2017). Due to assimilation practices that resulted in many children being taken away from their parents, this created a great deal of mistrust between social workers and the general public, especially among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (Tregeagle et al., 2019).
According to statistics, indigenous children make up 46% of children in out-of-home care but only 5.5% of all children in Australia between the ages of 0 and 17 (Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2018). This overrepresentation of native children in out-of-home care implies that western methods are still seen as the right approaches to child rearing. Many indigenous groups raise their children collectively, which has led to conflicts between these culturally oriented communities and organizations that have adopted colonialists' child removal procedures (Legwig, 2010).
The social worker's biases also have a significant impact on whether a decision to remove a kid is made in favor of or against the client, depending on whether the worker was raised in an upper-middle class mainstream setting or an indigenous milieu. The distinction between these contexts is that actions that are considered normal in one environment may be viewed as aberrant in another (Hood, 1997). While a worker's intention is to protect the client, they may end up taking a child away from a loving family and placing them in a situation where they may not be able to feel safe and protected, for instance where there is perceived to be oneness, sharing of responsibilities, and bonding by indigenous communities (Fejo-king, 2015).
Over the past century, workplaces have undergone remarkable transformations, largely driven by technological advancements and shifts in societal demands. We've transitioned from an industrial era to the information age, where jobs increasingly require higher levels of literacy to navigate complex information. The digital revolution, characterized by widespread computer use and internet access, has made digital literacy a fundamental skill in most workplaces. Globalization has expanded the reach of many businesses, necessitating intercultural communication skills and often multilingual proficiency. Specialization in various industries demands specific technical literacy, along with the ability to understand and employ specialized terminology. Effective communication, both written and verbal, has become paramount, as has the ability to work collaboratively in diverse teams. Continuous learning and adaptability are now vital traits, requiring a high level of literacy to engage with educational resources. Furthermore, critical thinking and problem-solving skills have taken precedence in many jobs, closely tied to a strong foundation in literacy. With the rise of remote work and virtual communication, proficiency in written communication through digital platforms has become indispensable. In light of these changes, literacy learning programs must evolve to incorporate digital literacy, emphasize critical thinking, and promote effective communication in various forms. Additionally, they should prioritize inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that all learners, regardless of background or ability, are equipped to thrive in today's dynamic workplace landscape.
We are in a world where technologies are vividly bringing changes and aid to help the people in so many ways. It can also be applicable in the educational system. Literacy does not only imply into our education and work but also as a person. A literate person knows how to handle and treat properly with respect the things and people that surround them. Going back to the educational system. Literacy is important in the community not just for teachers but also for students. The rapid effect of being a literate person can enhance our skills and development.
As the day goes by, the advancement of technologies continues to developed and improve. We are introduced to new technologies and we deal to complexities which is why training individual through quality education is a must. Through teaching and learning, individuals can be equipped and trained on how to use technology, how media works and how to react to online platforms.
Learning literacy is a vital aspect that should be honed to student as we need this in interacting with people and when working. Literacy in workplace is seen to the skills of an individual because their capabilities such the ability to read, write, speak and manage technology made them to be successful at work and became much productive. It helps the employees to work meaningfully, productively and efficiently. Literacy is implicated in workplace through how the employees apply their skills mastered. It is implicated through applying those knowledge on how to manage media, technology and how to communicate with peers.
Which is why as a future teacher, honing the skills of students is a must for them to succeed in life.
Aiming to provide students with better and more effective learning, education has evolved and advanced in recent years, bringing in new ideas about learning, classrooms, curricula, pedagogies, learner profiles, and the overall system, ultimately leading to success that lasts outside of the school's walls.
Learning is no longer limited to the dated lecture method used in classrooms. In this digital age, where holistic education is no longer simply a trendy term but the new norm, students and parents can expect much more. Teachers, who are sometimes the first representatives of education in classrooms, are expected to keep up with the changes in the learning environment and expectations. In line with the changes in the environment, the obstacles they encountered in recent decades have also altered.
Along with changes in the educational system, their challenges throughout the past few decades have also altered. The traditional one size fits all teaching approach has long been outgrown, and now the emphasis is on accommodating various learning styles. Digital induction in education involves much more than just giving students digital homework or placing a computer in the classroom. For example, flipped learning, mobile learning, AI-based decision making, data management, e-learning, visual learning, animations, digital evaluations, record keeping, etc. are examples of more intrinsic classroom changes that have been made possible by digitalization.
Trying to curate knowledge from various sources while maintaining tabs on students' learning who may rely on complex digital sources might overburden teachers. They must prepare their approach in advance to deal with this. Decide which method of digitization would best fulfill the demands of the students after having a clear understanding of their objectives for the year. classmates should use platforms to help them with their work and to acquire a clear view of the profiles and pertinent approaches of their classmates.
In conclusion, it is obvious that teachers in the twenty-first century are overcoming new obstacles. The resources and rewards have also altered, and with ongoing changes in the educational field, the teaching situation may also have changed. Although the difficulties may have changed, the rewards and resources haven't, and with the steady flow of new developments in the field of education, the teaching environment can only get better. To better aid in the development of the educational system, the Ministry of Education should work to establish smart classrooms in every school.
With the ever changing world, we now deal with different kinds of complexities. But we need to do them right and successfully to get fulfilling results.
Literacy enters in the workplace because with how modern and many processes are involved, you must be literate enough to facilitate using technology. Unlike in the early years in the work field in required minimum literacy skills.
Now, as part of the next group of future teachers it means being at the top of our game and still willingly open to learn new things. It's going to be unavoidable that we encounter many challenges and advances in the work field and literacy.
We know that over the last century, machines have replaced workers in many tasks. On balance, however, technology has created more jobs than it has displaced, the technology is progressing and transforming our life.
Technological progress is replacing labor with machines in production, and to innovate, expanding the number of sectors, tasks, and products. The changing nature of firms coincides with a shift in the demand for skills among workers. These changes in the nature of work have been more pronounced in advanced economies, particularly Europe and North America where the uptake and penetration of technology are greater and labor markets are more developed.