Literacy has traditionally been thought of as reading and writing. Although these are essential components of literacy, today our understanding of literacy encompasses much more. Alberta Education defines literacy as the ability, confidence and willingness to engage with language to acquire, construct and communicate meaning in all aspects of daily living. Language is explained as a socially and culturally constructed system of communication.
Literacy, today, must address a cultural environment that is constantly changing and producing new and innovative technologies.
Today’s students are tomorrow’s 21st-century workforce “who, very likely, will need to be experts at collaborating and inventing together...with literacies and technologies one cannot yet imagine.” (Karen E. Wohlwend)