Contemporary Literacy: What Does It Mean to Be Literate in the 21st Century?
EDST 226
Fall 2025
| Section:
01
02
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| Crosslisting:
PSYC 286 |
How do humans learn to read and write -- and how has that learning evolved in a rapidly changing media landscape? This course explores the cognitive, social, and cultural processes involved in literacy acquisition, from early development to advanced academic and digital literacies. Rooted in Paulo Freire¿s concept of literacy as a practice of meaning-making and empowerment, the course invites students to critically examine how literacy is shaped by power, identity, and access. Drawing on contemporary multiliteracies research, students will explore the diverse ways literacy is practiced in today¿s digitally mediated world. Special attention will be given to media and information literacy¿essential skills for navigating misinformation, algorithms, and fragmented media environments. This course will also center on literacy as the foundation for civic learning and engagement, inviting students to think about the ways schools scaffold citizenry through literacy instruction. Through critical inquiry, hands-on analysis, and reflective practice, students will develop the tools to access, evaluate, and produce information in a way that is ethical, critical, and socially responsive. This course is ideal for students interested in education, media studies, communication, and anyone seeking to understand literacy beyond the printed word in our complex digital age. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS EDST |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (Education Studies Minor)(Education Studies)(Psychology) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 50% - 74% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
SAMPLE READINGS Leu, D.J., Kinzer, C., Coiro, J., Castek, J., Henry, L. (2005). New literacies: A dual-level theory of the changing nature of literacy instruction, and assessment. In D. Alvermann, N. Unrau, & R.B. Ruddell (Eds.), Theoretical models and processes of reading (6th ed., pp. 1150-1175). Newark, DE: International Reading Association. Silverman, R. D., & Keane, K. (2020). The power of "screen time": Harnessing it to promote language and literacy learning in early childhood and elementary school. American Educator, 6(2020), 7. Neumann, M. M., Finger, G., & Neumann, D. L. (2017). A conceptual framework for emergent digital literacy. Early Childhood Education Journal, 45(4), 471-479. Wolf, M. (2018). Reader, come home: The reading brain in a digital world. New York, NY: Harper. Mason, L. E., Krutka, D., & Stoddard, J. (2018). Media literacy, democracy, and the challenge of fake news. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 10(2), 1-10.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Personal Media Diary Media Analysis Project: Students will analyze a piece of digital media (photo, article, blog post) that promotes a certain message. Students will break down the piece and analyze it though a critical media lens. The project will be presented through a creative media using platforms introduced in class or through student preference Op-ed on a contemporary definition of literacy. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course counts as an elective towards the Psychology Major. This course satisfies the Breadth Category 1: Cognition, Development and Science of Learning, OR Pedagogy, OR Elective requirement for the Education Studies Major and/or Minor. |
| Instructor(s): Besharat Mann,Rachel Times: .M.W... 08:20AM-09:40AM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 30 | | SR major: 6 | JR major: 6 | | |
| Seats Available: 9 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 2 | JR non-major: 2 | SO: 7 | FR: 7 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 1 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
| SECTION 02 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
SAMPLE READINGS Leu, D.J., Kinzer, C., Coiro, J., Castek, J., Henry, L. (2005). New literacies: A dual-level theory of the changing nature of literacy instruction, and assessment. In D. Alvermann, N. Unrau, & R.B. Ruddell (Eds.), Theoretical models and processes of reading (6th ed., pp. 1150-1175). Newark, DE: International Reading Association. Silverman, R. D., & Keane, K. (2020). The power of "screen time": Harnessing it to promote language and literacy learning in early childhood and elementary school. American Educator, 6(2020), 7. Neumann, M. M., Finger, G., & Neumann, D. L. (2017). A conceptual framework for emergent digital literacy. Early Childhood Education Journal, 45(4), 471-479. Wolf, M. (2018). Reader, come home: The reading brain in a digital world. New York, NY: Harper. Mason, L. E., Krutka, D., & Stoddard, J. (2018). Media literacy, democracy, and the challenge of fake news. Journal of Media Literacy Education, 10(2), 1-10. |
Examinations and Assignments:
Personal Media Diary Media Analysis Project: Students will analyze a piece of digital media (photo, article, blog post) that promotes a certain message. Students will break down the piece and analyze it though a critical media lens. The project will be presented through a creative media using platforms introduced in class or through student preference Op-ed on a contemporary definition of literacy. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course counts as an elective towards the Psychology Major. This course satisfies the Breadth Category 1: Cognition, Development and Science of Learning, OR Pedagogy, OR Elective requirement for the Education Studies Major and/or Minor. |
| Instructor(s): Besharat Mann,Rachel Times: .M.W... 10:50AM-12:10PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 30 | | SR major: 6 | JR major: 6 | | |
| Seats Available: 7 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 2 | JR non-major: 2 | SO: 7 | FR: 7 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 7 | 1st Ranked: 2 | 2nd Ranked: 2 | 3rd Ranked: 3 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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