Three Main Types of Literacy in Education

Education Tips

The three main types of literacy in education are not hard nuts to crack since literacy itself is concentrated on basically three things. These are reading, writing and comprehension of the things read and written. There are no other rudimentary types of literacy other than these listed stems. Without them, there is no point identifying literacy.

Traditional definitions of literacy usually refer to the ability to read and write. These are skills that can be developed over time, and they should be practiced regularly.

More than just knowing how to read and write basic letters and sentences (although this is a great start), this literacy means that you can understand and communicate what you have read and that you can express yourself through writing.

Having had a grasp of the three main types of literacy in education, it is important that you are also made to know the other kinds of literacy that deserve to be known. Below is a list of them. Just pay attention:

  • Digital Literacy

Digital literacy means being able to critically use technology, to navigate through various online forums and devices, understanding how technology works, and being able to creatively and inventively manipulate technology to solve problems. It goes hand in hand with media literacy.

Basically, being digitally literate means being able to use technology to solve problems and to express yourself. Contrary to popular belief, young people are not necessarily digitally literate just because they are competent in using technology – it depends on what they use it for.

  • Numerical Literacy

In a nutshell, numerical literacy is the ability to use basic math skills in everyday life and the ability to use numbers to solve problems or manage finances. Going hand-in-hand with financial literacy, numerical literacy means:

  • Understanding charts, diagrams, and data
  • Solve problems
  • Check answers
  • Explain solutions
  • Use logic

  • Emotional/Physical Literacy

Emotional literacy – Identifying, validating, and expressing your feelings, as well as recognizing and responding to the feelings of others.

Physical literacy – The development and repeated use of fine motor skills, balance, confident movement, and the enjoyment of being able to move with skill. Developing this literacy at an early age allows children to learn and think more easily. However, improving physical literacy is important at every age.

Read Also: Why Literacy is Important in Education

How do these relate to one another? Having competent physical literacy is a fundamental tool for the development and expression of emotional literacy. In other words, the more comfortable you are in your own body, the more in tune you will be with your own feelings, and the more in tune you will be with the world.

  • Media Literacy

Media Literacy refers to your ability to understand the  messages you are being told on television, radio, video games, movies, news programs, social media, and more. Essentially, media literacy means understanding:

  • Media is constructed with a specific purpose in mind – it’s designed to make you think something
  • People will see the same thing and understand it differently
  • Constructing media is a business
  • It reflects political and cultural ideas
  • The type of story changes depending on the type of media

  • Financial Literacy

Going hand in hand with having good numeracy is the ability to understand and manage your finances. Financial literacy is “having the knowledge, skills and confidence to make responsible financial decisions” (Government of Canada), including:

  • Understanding how finances work and applying them to your life
  • Planning for your financial future and managing your personal funds
  • Being confident to make important decisions
  • Navigating financial systems and institutions
  • Making the best use of the resources you have

  • Cultural Literacy

Cultural Literacy is the ability to understand all of the subtle nuances that come along with living or working in a particular society. It consists of understanding the language, methods, assumptions, and unstated ideas that make up a way to behave and communicate. It’s specific to each culture, even the particular cultures that develop in a workplace or school, and most people are only literate in their own culture.

The benefit to having a good understanding of cultural literacy is knowing how to avoid misunderstandings and communicate well with people of other cultures. Knowing your own cultural literacy makes you more empathetic and aware of others.

  • Health Literacy

This is the type of literacy that allows you to understand the health care system, such as:

  • Medications
  • Communicating with doctors and specialists
  • Getting the necessary help

Having poor health literacy skills is dangerous and can result in taking incorrect medications, trouble following instructions from your doctor about lifestyle, food, and referrals, missing appointments, and so on.

  • Information Literacy

Information literacy teaches our children the ability to understand facts, figures, statistics and data. When searching online children will be inundated with false figures and made up numbers on all sorts of topics. Therefore, it’s necessary to teach kids how to identify when figures might not be truthful or seem a little off. Teaching how to determine between fiction and truth is vital for success in a world so inundated with information.

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