Transliteracy

An interesting idea showed up in a blog that I read periodically- the idea of transliteracy.

According to the Production and Research in Transliteracy group blog,
Transliteracy is the ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media from signing and orality through handwriting, print, TV, radio and film, to digital social networks.

So it would seem that the traditional definition of literacy has to change. In the past, I defined literacy as the ability to read and understand what has been read with the idea that I was talking about books, newspapers and other print sources. But with the focus of our government on have all students proficient in reading, math, and other classes, maybe the idea of literacy needs to be changed.

What is literacy and at the same time, what is reading? Has the idea of reading changed? Has the boom of technological gadgets, programs and Internet resources changed the way that teachers, parents and students need to view literacy and reading? What changes need to be made to ensure that all students become efficient consumers of the technology available, but at the same time, become literate? These are the questions that need to be asked.