Using picture books to develop critical visual literacy in primary schools: challenges of a dialogic approach

This paper presents findings from a collaborative project on critical visual literacy in primary schools. In the project, we (a researcher and a teacher) implemented a series of picture book discussions with children in years 5 and 6. Our first aim was to develop the children's ability to analyse the visual images in picture books and how authors/illustrators use these, together with writing, to communicate specific ideas. The second aim was to promote a dialogic lesson in which the children would lead the talk. In the paper, I discuss the challenges we faced in reaching our aims. My data include observation notes and audio recordings of the sessions and of discussions with the children. In the analysis, I examine the roles we took on, for example, as extenders and clarifiers of the children's talk. However, unbeknown to us at the start, our two project aims turned out to be in conflict with each other. While the children enjoyed looking closely at the pictures and discussing the books' possible meanings, without repeated questions and prompts, they focused on the book as story not on how it was constructed by the author and illustrator. This required a more teacher‐focused approach than what we had planned.     

Computers and six PACs: An infused approach to computer literacy at the preservice level

One of the big questions in teacher education today is, “How does a college of education insure that its graduates are computer literate?” The addition of a microcomputer course in the preparatory program is the obvious answer; however, it may create programmatic and certificate complications. In order to address the concern for computer literacy and its accompanying complications, the elementary education preparatory program at Northern Illinois University reflects an infused curriculum approach. That is, courses were identified in each of the three professional semesters of the program in which self-paced courseware packets, called STUDY-PACs, were required.     

A praxis approach to financial literacy education

Financial literacy education (FLE) typically focuses on teaching skills and capabilities that promote individual wealth accumulation—for example, the importance of working, budgeting and saving. In this article, we argue the need to move from an individual wealth accumulation focus in FLE to a praxis approach to FLE. We outline the shortcomings of the conventional approach to FLE and develop a conceptual framework for a praxis approach to FLE. We view praxis as the moral, ethical and caring aspect of teaching. Using the conceptual framework, we argue that a praxis approach to FLE includes full attention to: how financial decision-making affects others and self; acknowledging that some life decisions are not financially rewarding; understanding that improving financial mathematics skills and capabilities may not equate to an increase in income; how SES affects an individual’s ability to save and maintain long-term saving; and the ways in which gender, culture, values, psychological state, socioeconomic class and ethics shape identity and their impact on financial decision-making.     

Paired reading: a structured approach to raising attainment in literacy

Competency in reading is a key factor in literacy attainment. If pupils can read proficiently this allows them to access the curriculum in all subjects and helps them to become confident, successful, motivated learners. Paired reading has long been recognised as an effective approach for supporting reading in schools. It helps to build relationships and encourages self-esteem and motivation. By the pupil reading aloud, either independently or in tandem with their partner, they gain confidence and research suggests that fluency and accuracy improve. However, for pupils who have gaps in their phonological knowledge this approach has limited success as it relies almost exclusively on visual or auditory memory. This research looks at a more structured approach to paired reading that combines both the 'look-say' approach (whole word recognition) of the more traditional paired reading programmes with phonic teaching, to create a tool to improve reading.     

Measuring literacy in IALS: a construct-centered approach

This paper offers a brief overview of the framework that has been used for developing the tasks used to measure literacy in IALS as well as for understanding the meaning of what is being reported with respect to the comparative literacy proficiencies of adults. The importance of developing a framework is thought to be central in construct-based approaches to measurement. Among the things that should be included in the framework are an agreed definition of what ought to be measured and the identification of characteristics that can be used in the construction and interpretation of these tasks.     

A cross-disciplinary approach to teaching data literacy and proportionality

The Thinking with Data project (TWD) expands on current notions of data literacy by (1) focusing on proportional reasoning as key to data literacy and (2) leveraging the non-mathematics disciplines to engage students in deep thinking about the context of data and the application of proportionality. A set of four 2-week, sequential modules for cross-disciplinary implementation in seventh-grade classrooms was designed and evaluated. Using a quasi-experimental approach, we found that student data literacy was increased through the focused integration of social studies, mathematics, science, and English language arts. In this article, we describe our theoretical approach to designing and implementing the modules, report on student learning gains in mathematics, and describe teacher reactions to the materials. In sum, our study provides evidence that the TWD approach has the potential to build data literacy while also allowing students to learn core discipline-based content standards.     

浅论人类视觉素养

在“读图时代”,视觉素养是一个新的重要的研究领域。该文通过介绍国外对视觉素养的定义及一项相关的研究,提出了一些自己的观点及问题,并进行了分析,希望能起到抛砖引玉的作用,引起国内研究者对视觉素养的重视和本土化的研究。     

The IALS approach to defining and measuring literacy skills

The term “illiterate” that is commonly used to describe someone who cannot read or write is an absolute term, which fails to recognize that those who are deemed “illiterate” are probably in fact “literate” to some degree. The approach taken to define and measure literacy in the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) acknowledges the limitation of viewing literacy in a dichotomous way. The IALS assesses literacy proficiency along a continuum. This chapter considers some of the conceptual issues surrounding the definition and measurement of literacy proficiency. In particular, it addresses what the IALS literacy proficiency measure is and what it is not.     

青少年视觉素养教育探究

人类进入图像时代,语言文化与视觉文化发生了地位上的变化。Web2.0时代网络由于其可写性,视觉文化的传播因此变得更加广泛、快捷。青少年作为各种视觉网站的最大用户群体,其视觉素养教育意义非凡。主要体现在四个方面:培养视觉审美、防止视觉污染、引导青少年进行视觉文化创造、传承民族文化与价值观念。本文也提出了一个具体的如何提高青少年视觉素养的模式。     

Critical literacy: an approach to child rights education in Uganda and Canada

For children to know how to fully participate in and most effectively lead the world they will inherit, they must learn how to critically engage with it and be knowledgeable about foundational rights and instruments that support such engagement. Together, critical literacy, which encourages the examination and interrogation of the underlying assumptions of dominant narratives and ‘legitimate’ knowledge, and children's rights education, which involves children in learning how to express their ideas and fully participate in society (as appropriate to their age and ability), offer a powerful approach—theoretical and pedagogical—to engage children in active engagement of the world, especially with respect to the promotion of social justice. However, the layers of complexity and risks associated with deep consideration of challenging topics require expert guidance and compassionate role modelling from teachers of young children. Our paper considers the intersections between critical literacy and global child rights with reference to a study conducted with young school children in Canada and Uganda to discuss how teachers can support meaningful learning experiences in the classroom that can promote children's agency and social justice commitments.     

Using Wordless Picture Books to Support Emergent Literacy

Wordless books—picture books that rely entirely on illustrations to tell a story—are an excellent resource for educators of young children. This article provides a research-based rationale for using wordless books, offers a developmental sequence for introducing children to stories told through pictures, suggests a general strategy and wide array of early literacy activities based on books without texts, and recommends ways of communicating with parents/families about the value of wordless books. Outstanding wordless books and examples of children's responses to this growing genre of children's literature are also included.     

Interactive whiteboards and talking books: a new approach to teaching children to write?

This article presents work undertaken with a class of Scottish Primary Six children (aged 10) to investigate the use of interactive whiteboard technology and interactive talking books in whole‐class writing lessons. The paper reports on a research project with three aims: to investigate how the use of an interactive whiteboard to reflect on the language and style of professional authors influenced the children's own writing; to examine the effect of this experience on the writing and behaviour of children with additional support needs; and to identify the advantages and disadvantages of using such technology in whole‐class writing lessons. The resulting evidence suggests that while some children benefited from the approach, teaching children to write through examination of professional models of writing in whole‐class lessons did not promote the most effective learning even where the text was provided in such an interactive medium. The implications of these results for practitioners who wish to use talking books and whiteboard technology to teach writing are discussed.     

网络课程开发人员的视觉素养培养

现代科技的高速发展和媒体手段的更新、提高,使得网络课程变为当今最为热门的远程教育手段。网络课程相对于以往各种媒体手段运用下的课程有着其鲜明的特点,学习者也由此产生特定的学习心理。网络课程开发人员就必须在此基础上加强视觉语言表达能力、电子信息技术和心理学知识水平等方面的提高,从而提高自身的视觉素养。     

艺术设计专业学生视觉素养培养策略

随着社会的发展,科学的进步,多媒体与互联网技术相继在生活中的应用越来越多,更加强化了人们的视觉意识。通过视觉感知消息已经日益成为一种重要的手段,对图像的直接思考已经是一种能力。在信息技术与媒介的发展下,高院校数字媒体专业学生的视觉素养亟需提高,如何提升和培养学生的视觉素养是教育工作者的重要课题。