Literacy Definition

Literacy in simple terms is the ability to read and write. It is also the capability to use language, figures, descriptions, computers, and other rudimentary means to comprehend, connect, gain recommended information and use the governing emblem structures of culture. This essay will seem at the sponsors of literacy and how they have benefited my literary practices and identities. It will also examine the differences between social and competencies view of scholarship.
Literacy sponsors are organizations, individuals or groups that assist college students or youngsters to achieve or escalate their stage of literacy, whether for the sponsor’s advantage or not. These benefactors can be families, religions, workplaces, computers, tools, resources amongst others. However, sponsors are not always helpful and can limit access to powerful knowledge, for example, some institutions of learning do not offer students with choices of their education or resources to work. Some teaching may not be esteemed, and some sponsors do not teach interests of the students. My literacy sponsors are my parents who have seen me through education since kindergarten up to the university and my teachers who have instilled in me the required knowledge all through my schooling. My parents ensured that I never missed school due to issues of fees and they also guaranteed I had all the reading and writing materials needed. That helped me study even at home and improve more and more in academics. On the other hand, my teachers were always committed to making sure they deliver the right information, and where I experienced difficulty in whatever subject, they still offered a helping hand. The knowledge acquired from school has enabled me to grow as an individual since I am well acquainted with information of different life concepts (Brandit, 2003). The social view of literacy outlooks learning as a social practice than a collection of skills an individual has. It is more of what people do than what they learn. It is a social activity since individuals using literacy practices form a social network in exchange of skills and knowledge that serves as a resource for learning. Literacy here is about applying expertise in specific areas for the particular context of use. On the other hand, skills view of knowledge has to do with critical thinking, scrutiny of ideas, inscription and communication with understanding and complexity. Social literacy does not rank people but sees them as different literate. Literacy skills, on the other hand, are seen as independent of culture, social position, environment, and identity. These skills are measurable and comparable across different settings and are hieratical. The third difference between the two literacies is that; in socio-cultural methods, non-literate individuals in both skills-based and technology literacy take part in the practices of scholarship in their specific communities (Smythe, 2017). Literacy in social practice view is always contextualized, situated within a specific socio-cultural background. There is no one form of literacy which is universally applicable. Thus, there are various literacy practices and scholarships for some groups like occupational, different institutions and social contexts, and different activities like religion and education. In skill-based view literacy, knowledge and expert ice are required to solve problems in society. These skills taught through critical thinking which promotes creativity and self-reflection, and the focus is to develop independent readers and thinkers using reading, speaking and writing skills. Life skills are required to make viable choices for they help us improvise in the direction of daily circumstances and make proper decisions about more nonconcrete or long-term undertakings (Barton, 2007).ReferencesBrandt, D. (2003). Changing Literacies. In Teachers College Record, 105(2), 245-260.Smythe, S. (2017). What Is Literacy? Exploring Literacies In Everyday Life. Retrieved from Simon Fraser University EDUC341-C100 Canvas website: https://canvas.sfu.ca/courses/32980/pages/unit-1-what-is-literacy-exploring-literacies-in-everyday-life?module_item_id=766128Barton, D. (2007).  The Social Basis of Literacy. In Literacy: An introduction to the ecology of written language (2nd ed., pp. 33-50). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.