A literate individual has long been a person who can read and write. Such literacies are still valuable, yet in our present day, they are insufficient. A multitude of literacies exist. They all come together in transliteracy:
the ability to read, write and interact across a range
of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through
handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks. Thanks Sue Thomas!
Transliteracy existed prior to the term. Remember pop-up videos?? Oh yeah, I'm going there.
Most of us are accidental transliterasists. Ever received a text message that your prescription was ready to pick up? Posted a doc on google docs to work with someone? Posed a question on facebook? We already read and write across platforms without even thinking about it.
Definition deconstructed:
1. Transliteracy: the
ability to read, write and interact across a range
of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through
handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks.
This is a great starting point! Get students comfortable with
prezi,
thinglink,
animoto,
blabberize,
voicethread, and blogging. Take students further with
infographics and
QR codes.
2. Transliteracy: the ability to read, write and interact across a range
of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through
handwriting,
print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks.
Using platforms and tools students are comfortable with, add the layer of embedded multi-media resources.
3. Transliteracy: the
ability to read, write and interact across a range
of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through
handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks.
Students have the opportunity to each others creations and positively comment to increase understanding and future creations. Again, begin with tools that students are already comfortable with.
4. Transliteracy: the ability to read, write and interact across a range
of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through
handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to
digital social networks.
Now the big jump-social networking: facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest. Use social networks for collaboration as well as continued inquiry and discussion. Go even further and utilize social networks for PSA campaigns.
The naysayer, "But wait, I have to get my students to read and write on grade level first. So all this trasliteracy sounds great, but it really doesn't apply to my students." After several responses that luckily stayed in my head, teaching transliteracy is a foundation of being successful in today's world. Bringing in technology further adds to intrinsic motivation and helps make learning fun. As students create for others to view, they do improve on their basic reading and writing literacies. Win-Win.
Digital devices and cloud computing are easily accessible. Libraries must be transformed into evolving spaces of learning to provide experiences where creativity abounds.
