New Literacies: Curricular Implications

Abstract

This chapter explores the implications of a new literacies perspective for literacy research and practice, focusing on two specific challenges. First, it explores the challenges posed by the increased need to critically evaluate online information. With a diverse set of voices online, the absence of traditional gatekeepers requires an especially sophisticated level of critical evaluation by every reader and thus challenges each of us to read and think more critically. The new chapter addresses perspectives on critical evaluation in online environments, the importance of critically evaluating online texts, and the instructional implications of recent research in this area. Second, it explores challenges posed by the effective use of collaborative online learning projects that cross national and cultural borders. Today, schools are challenged to prepare students who can navigate and participate in a global society. The chapter addresses recent initiatives in online learning, the need for new literacies for successful global communication and collaboration, and the instructional implications of global collaborations. Developing critical users of information who can also interact with others on a global scale requires a focused commitment of schools to ensure that online information is integrated into the literacy and learning curriculum in effective ways.