Building strong futures: Literacy practices for developing engaged citizenship in the 21st century

• Published in: The Australian journal of language and literacy Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 86 - 95
• Main Author: Jill Lewis-Spector
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: Norwood, SA Australian Literacy Educators' Association 01.02.2016
• Subjects: Ability testing; Language arts; Literacy; Student-centered learning; Study and teaching; Australia
• ISSN: 1038-1562

Recent discussion about literacy in many advanced countries has focused on promoting students' performance such that students are better prepared to compete in the global marketplace. But our literacy instruction has a larger purpose. In fact, Australia's Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (2014) put at the centre of its recently introduced curriculum a goal of the 'successful learner, a confident and creative individual' who was also, and of equal importance, an active informed citizen. Current global tensions make apparent the need for democratic nations and those striving to become so to have educated and engaged citizens who are capable of contributing to the building of strong futures for all. How can our literacy instruction address this need? Five dimensions that together comprise essentials for civic competence - Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, Values, and Intentions (Print & Lange, 2013) - provide the framework for this discussion of opportunities educators have through our literacy instruction to contribute substantially to the development of a competent and engaged citizenry.