Literacy

Illiteracy Illiterate because of age, stage of development or developmental disabilities. Nominal Literacy: May understand that a term, question or topic is related to a discipline but knows little else about it. Cognitive psychologists call this illiteracy. Identifies terms as belonging to the discipline Demonstrates misconceptions Has naive explanations Shows minimal understanding Functional Literacy: Can use vocabultary ofa discipline, but only within a specific context, such as defining a term on a test, reading a newspaper, or listening to a television program. Uses vocabulary of the discipline Defines terms correctly Memorizes special responses Understands only a specific need or activity

Concentual and Procedural Literacy:
Understands how the concepts of a discipline relate to the discipline as a whole and to the methods and processes of inquiry .

• Understands conceptual schemes of the discipline
• Understands procedural knowledge and skills of the discipline
• Understands relationships among parts and whole of the discipline

Multidimensional Literacy:
Recognizes the importance of integral, contextual perspectives. Includes the philosophical, historical, and social dimensions of a discipline; develops an understanding and appreciation for a discipline as a cultural enterprise, makes connections among disciplines and between a discipline and larger social problems and aspirations.

• Understands the place of the discipline among other disciplines
• Knows the history of the discipline
• Knows the nature of the discipline
• Understands the interactions between the discipline and society

Adapted from Achieving Scientific Literacy. Roger Bybee.