literency

Literency is a term occasionally used in education and information sciences to describe the broad set of literate competencies required in modern society. Unlike traditional literacy, which centers on reading and writing skills, literency is used by some scholars to denote an umbrella concept that integrates multiple literacies necessary to function across digital and conventional contexts. Proponents argue that literency reflects how people search for, assess, interpret, and create meaning across textual, visual, and interactive media.

Common components often associated with literency include digital literacy, information literacy, media literacy, visual literacy, data literacy, and computational thinking. Some formulations also emphasize ethical and cultural dimensions, such as recognizing bias, assessing sources, and safeguarding privacy and digital wellbeing.

Usage of the term varies by region and discipline. In curricula and program design, literency is sometimes invoked to justify integrated instruction that combines reading, writing, critical thinking, and technology use rather than teaching these skills in isolation. Because literency is not yet standardized, its exact definition and measurement differ across sources.

Critics argue that literency can be vague or duplicative of established terms and that a lack of consensus makes it difficult to assess progress. Supporters contend that an umbrella term can help educators plan comprehensive, future-oriented skill sets.

Related concepts include literacy, digital literacy, information literacy, media literacy, and visual literacy.