literacyusing

Literacyusing is a term used in education to describe an approach that integrates literacy skills with the active use of information and communication technologies and real-world tasks. It emphasizes applying reading, writing, speaking, and listening in authentic contexts across print and digital media, with attention to comprehension, production, and critical evaluation.

The concept is relatively new and not yet standardized. It draws on multiliteracies, information literacy, and digital literacy frameworks, and is used to describe how students learn through using language and textual resources to accomplish meaningful tasks. Some definitions extend to include visual, auditory, and data literacy, reflecting changes in communicative practices in contemporary societies.

Common instructional practices associated with literacyusing include project-based learning, cross-curricular tasks, and the use of authentic texts such as websites, reports, videos, and social media. Teachers guide students in evaluating sources, synthesizing information, producing multimodal texts, and reflecting on their own use of language and media.

Benefits include improved transfer of skills to real-life contexts and increased student engagement. Challenges include developing consistent assessment methods, ensuring equitable access to technology, and achieving consensus on a precise definition, given the term's relatively limited uptake in formal curricula.

See also: multiliteracies, digital literacy, information literacy, media literacy.