Volume 23, Number 2, 2021 Reimagining Literacy: Being Literate in the Pandemic Era Guest-edited by Linda Laidlaw, Suzanna Wong and Joanne O'Mara

EN:

In England statutory expectations for literacy education place little emphasis on contemporary modes and media of communication and, as such, are out of step with contemporary life. We explore how open-ended, collaborative pedagogies can provide rich contexts for authentic everyday communication even in the context of such reductionist curriculum and assessment frameworks. This leads us to claim that the success of such approaches depends on the enthusiasm, experience and creativity of teachers and that remembering longstanding professional commitments in language and literacy teaching is at least as important as rethinking the curriculum when advocating for literacy provision more suited to current times.

EN:

This article focuses on how a game-informed culture in public school math classes sustained interaction, cooperation, and empowered meaning making when COVID-19 mandates closed school buildings and education went fully online. More specifically, the game-informed learning environment supported the students’ development and discussion of their multimodal numeracies, and the highlighted activity reveals how the generation of math memes can foster students’ engagement in creative and empowered practices. Underscored throughout this article is the importance to embrace the expansiveness of numeracies in order to recognize, value, and support students’ meaning making.

EN:

This paper argues the case for expansive and inclusive models of literacy pedagogy that can be applied to curriculua more generally. Literacy pedagogy in Australia has benefitted from using Freebody and Luke's (1990) Four Roles of the Reader Model. We analyse the Paul Kelly song video, Sleep, Australia, Sleep, using this model. Underpinning this model is the concept that each role is necessary but not sufficient. We discuss the benefits fo pluralism in language and literacy pedagogy in an age of standards-based reforms and shifting repertoires of literacy practices in pedagogies that speak back to the Anthropocene.

EN:

During the COVID-19 pandemic teachers have been expected to learn new digital literacy skills, often applying them immediately. While professional development structures within school districts and professional associations are organized to offer supports, teachers may be challenged to gain digital skills within existing professional development models. Within our study, teachers explored technologies with the aim of rethinking frames for teaching and learning literacy. Following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic they shared their experiences, insights and challenges. In our article, we address implications for digital literacy teaching and learning and the need for new ways of approaching teacher development.