Concept, types, meaning, examples of literacy. The problem of literacy. Formation of literacy. Increase the level of literacy. Literacy is ...

Despite the wide dissemination of educational institutions and the availability of all kinds of information, the problem of literacy exists in modern times.

Definition

Literacy is the level of knowledge and skills in a particular area, and the ability to apply them in practice. The degree of mastery of an object determines the level of accessibility of certain information to a person.

Initially, the concept of literacy was used to determine the level of proficiency in reading and writing skills in accordance with the norms of the native language. In the modern world, this concept has become more widespread and is now used to refer to knowledge of a high degree in other areas of activity. There are such concepts as economic, legal, psychological, technological and scientific literacy.

Information Awareness

The level of literacy is one of the most pressing problems in the current educational system. It implies not only the ability to find the necessary information, but also the ability to navigate in an infinite information flow, to analyze and synthesize the acquired knowledge, gaining usefulness and applying them in practice.

In many European secondary and higher educational institutions the system of education differs from ours. The main difference is in teaching students to use information, and not to outline and memorize by heart. Certainly, the development of memory is no less important. However, according to this system of education it is important not only to learn the material, but also learn how to draw conclusions and conclusions on your own, find alternative solutions, see the interrelationship between different at first glance, discuss, back up your statements with logical arguments, and so on.

Varieties

Educational research activities include such types of literacy:

• Literacy reading and writing.
• Possession of information carriers (computers and other gadgets).
• Ability to benefit from the telecommunications sphere.
• Media literacy.
• Informational.

The last item combines the previous one and is the key. In the 21st century, one must be able to cope with the information flow and possess the ability to quickly find, perceive and transfer knowledge in one area or another.

Knowledge of computer skills

This term was first proposed by the president of the Information Industry Association Paul Zurkowski. This concept can be characterized as the ability to use a set of knowledge and skills to work on the computer to solve certain problems, plan various actions and anticipate their consequences. Since at the present time information technologies are an integral part of society's life, the ability to use computers has become no less important than the skills of writing and reading. This knowledge can significantly speed up the process of finding the necessary information in any field of science, art, culture or technology. Such technologies have greatly facilitated human interaction with a continuous information flow.

Network Literacy

This concept is closely related to the previous paragraph. Communication through the Internet has become an integral part of social activities. This type of communication involves not only communication but also a cognitive process. In addition to the skills of owning a personal computer and the ability to correctly work with information, it is equally important to develop critical thinking.

Cultural level

Anyone who has ever been abroad has probably noticed that often one knowledge of a foreign language is not enough to fully understand the local inhabitants. This is due to the cultural and social characteristics of each country. Any language is not just a dry set of lexical units and grammatical rules, but a living system that constantly develops due to interaction with other cultures. It is impossible to master the foreign language excellently, obviously excluding history, cultural experience and social norms of the country. The formation of literacy in terms of cultural aspects implies not only acquaintance with a wide range of basic knowledge. This is freedom of their use. Therefore, cultural literacy is a concept that includes not only communication skills according to the rules of a particular language, but also a lot of other knowledge. This is etiquette, the ability to use imaginative speech (idioms, metaphors, phraseological units), knowledge of traditions and customs, folklore, moral and moral aspects, and much more.

Psychological literacy

This sphere includes all kinds of communication skills: the ability to establish contact, object, criticize, lead a discussion, persuade, speak to the public. In general, this includes everything related to the issues of relationships and sociability.

How to improve spelling literacy

There is an opinion that the ability to write correctly is innate. However, contrary to the widespread misconception, the acquisition of this skill is available to everyone. The best way is to start the child's intellectual development from an early age. Then the cognitive process will pass easily and naturally.

The first educational activity of the child is built on the imitation of the speech of others, therefore it is very important to create a supportive environment. Certain speech skills are formed due to parents: the ability to correctly place accentuations in words, to build sentences, to find suitable phrases in each specific case, and to communicate intelligibly. Therefore it is very important to communicate with the child as much as possible, read tales and poems aloud. A little later, when he learns to read independently, the correct spelling of words and phrases with repeated repetition will be postponed in memory. In addition, there are various intellectual and logical games.

Causes of Illiteracy

In comparison with the recent past, it has now become much easier to search for any information. Virtually all have the opportunity to use computer programs that track spelling errors and typos, find all sorts of textbooks, dictionaries and reference books. Nevertheless, the problem of literacy remains relevant to this day.

There are several reasons for the low level of knowledge of the native language:

• No need of reading. Books are increasingly replaced by other entertainment: watching all kinds of TV shows, serials, computer games and other things. And any information can be found on the Internet. This threatens not only general illiteracy, but also a decline in the intellectual level, a deterioration in creative thinking.
• Reading of poor-quality literature. More and more entertaining literature has begun to appear in recent decades, in addition to the lack of useful information, one can find a lot of spelling, grammatical and stylistic errors.
• Chatting in Internet. In various chat rooms and forums, slang, abbreviations and careless handling of spelling are common. This style can become a habit. Unfortunately, for some people literacy is something that you can do without in everyday life.

Intellectual games and entertainment for children

To ensure that the educational process does not seem to be a painful child, it is necessary to conduct training in a game form:

• Crosswords. Without a doubt, this kind of intellectual entertainment helps to increase vocabulary. In addition to the usual crosswords with lists of verbal assignments, there are those in which questions are presented in the form of pictures. This game will help the child learn to perceive and transmit information.
• Various verbal games in words: the selection of rhyme, city, the search for a word beginning with a certain syllable and so on.
• Games on paper: make as many as possible short words from one long, "Snake", where each subsequent word begins with the last letter or syllable of the preceding one, "Field of Miracles", "Confusion" - a game in which you have to assemble a word from mixed cards with letters .
• Board games: "Scrabble" and the Russian version of "Scrabble".
• Learning the rules in a game form. Thus, examples of literacy are much easier to remember:
  - "it's not wonderful, not wonderful, but dangerous and terrible: it's useless to write a letter";
  - "Either, something, something, something - do not forget the hyphen";
  - "I really do not want to marry."
• It is also very useful to develop visual memory. You can offer the child the following exercises: find ten differences between the two pictures, show a few patterns on a sheet of paper, and then ask to reproduce what they have seen from memory.

Older children can already be offered independent compilation of crossword puzzles, as well as writing essays, short stories and poems. This will greatly enhance the intellectual level of the child, help develop imagination and imaginative thinking.

It is also very important in the process of communication to eliminate possible speech errors: correctly use and combine words and phrases (for example, to dress and put on), put stresses on words (rings, cakes) and more.

If some words cause difficulties, you can create a personal dictionary for writing difficult lexical units. Then, with these words, you can conduct small dictations. Another idea - a game in the style of "insert a missed letter." Multiple repetition will help to bring the correct spelling of words to automaticity.

Literacy is a skill that can be easily acquired or developed, but classes must be regular. Of course, the school will offer a large number of all sorts of exercises on phonetic, morphological and syntactic analysis. Therefore, at home it is undesirable to duplicate such activities. It is best to instill in a child a love of literature, offering him various genres, and to lead the educational process in a playful form. The main thing is that the training should take place at ease.

Importance of literature

Increasing the level of literacy is one of the important parts of the educational process. Undoubtedly, an important role is played by memorizing the rules and norms of the native language with subsequent consolidation of the material in practice. However, this may not be enough. Those who seek to improve their perception and presentation skills should pay special attention to reading various literature. It is best to give priority to those authors who perfectly know the word and colorfully describe what is happening. Reading good books helps develop eloquence, imaginative thinking, the ability to penetrate the essence of things.

Intuitive Literacy

This concept implies the ability of a person to correctly express thoughts in accordance with the norms of his native language, although he does not know the rules. This kind of ability usually develops in people who read a lot. In memory, spelling, punctuation and stylistic features of the language are postponed. In addition, reading people develop good logical thinking, eloquence and the ability to philosophical reasoning.

The role of literacy in society

Certainly, a person who can correctly express his own thoughts, does not suffer from tongue-tied speech, expresses himself according to the stylistic norms of his native language and writes without mistakes, is much more likely to receive a prestigious education, and then to find a good job. General cultural awareness is no less important than professional education.

The importance of literacy is difficult to overestimate. This is one of the most important criteria that distinguishes a primitive and uneducated society from a progressive one. According to the UNESCO World Organization, a high level of oral and written speech plays a key role in basic education, victory over poverty and sustainable development of the society.