scholarly journals Pasifika Students, Literacy As Social Practice, and the Curriculum

Author(s):  
John Dickie

Ministry of Education guidelines for primary teachers increasingly emphasise literacy as social practice, and with growing diversity in schools, the Ministry advocates that teachers may help reduce disparity in achievement by making connections between students’ out-of-school and school literacies. However it may be difficult for teachers to address this due to the Ministry’s expectation of more detailed literacy skills to be acquired by specific levels of schooling, and the expectation of more detailed assessment. This article offers examples of out-of-school literacies from a doctoral study which investigated literacy as social practice in family, church and neighbourhood sites as described by Year 7 and 8 Pasifika students. It raises the question as to whether existing assessment approaches and teacher knowledge are sufficiently broad to encompass literacy as social practice, considering the diverse literacy experiences students bring with them to school.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
John G Dickie

<p>An investigation of sites, uses and practices for literacy in the lives of Pasifika students Lower test scores on school measures of literacy for Pasifika students than for the majority of students in New Zealand are a cause for concern. As part of a wider attempt to address this problem the Ministry of Education has argued that teachers need to be better informed of out-of-school literacy practices. This thesis considers what can be learned when this guidance is followed and it investigates students' social and cultural uses of literacy in family and community settings. It explores the argument that knowledge of these out-of-school literacies will inform teachers and through incorporation (McNaughton, 2002) teachers may be able to make effective connections for students to school literacy. A sociocultural perspective is used to investigate the social and cultural practices of the students while the study also uses Cremin's (1976) concept of configurations of sites to consider how learning is mediated for students in different settings. Rogoff's (1995) three planes of analysis provide a tool to examine students' practices at the community, interpersonal, and personal levels. The investigation sought the students' own perspective of how they appropriate knowledge about literacy as they collected information with cameras and journals on their own practices. The participants were 14 Pasifika students aged 11 and 12 years (mostly Samoan) as well as three adult Samoan church representatives and teachers from the students' school. Students' photos were used to elicit rich description in semi-structured interviews and interview schedules were also used with students and adult participants. The findings illustrate how the students were socialised into particular practices that are contextualised in the sites of family, church and neighbourhood. They reveal that for the students there was both overlapping of values and conflict between their sites of literacy practice. The complementarities occurred most strongly between family and church and a valued feature of the students' practice was the use of Samoan language. The most common conflicts were those related to popular culture and they occurred between the sites of family, church and school on the one hand and neighbourhood sites on the other as well as within family sites. The thesis argues that awareness of the complementary and conflicting features is essential for teachers in understanding the complexity the students face in choosing their paths among two cultures. This knowledge enables teachers to incorporate aspects of out-of-school literacy into school practice and to draw on those in the students' backgrounds who may facilitate students' literacy acquisition.</p>


2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 263-292
Author(s):  
Paul Molyneux ◽  
Renata Aliani

ABSTRACT It is widely recognized that to be literate in today's world requires conscious, creative and critical deployment of language (and other semiotic devices) for different social purposes, contexts and audiences (FREEBODY & LUKE, 1990, 2003). This notion of literacy as social practice (BARTON & HAMILTON, 2000; STREET, 1995) has been extended to include the idea of multiliteracies (NEW LONDON GROUP, 1996; KALANTZIS & COPE, 2012), in recognition of the roles technology and digital text use and production play in young people's lives. However, the literacy practices of primary school-aged students, as they enact them in their daily in-school and out-of-school lives, remain under-investigated. This is particularly the case with bilingually-educated students whose literacy practices, involving texts, talk and technology, are deployed across languages. The research reported here investigated the literacy practices and language use of 68 students at three primary schools in Melbourne, Australia. Each of these schools offered bilingual programs to their students (involving instruction in Mandarin Chinese or Vietnamese, along with English). Data collected through individually administered questionnaires and small group interviews reveal these students live highly multilingual lives, where sophisticated linguistic choices and translanguaging are part of both their in-school and out-of-school lives. The research revealed that direct connections are made between the languages learned at school and personal, family and community literacy practices. As such, the students were found to attach high levels of importance to becoming biliterate, and powerfully attest to the linguistic, educational, social and functional benefits of bilingualism and a bilingual education. The research findings provide valuable insights into bilingual and multilingual practices involving texts, talk and technology. This article posits that bilingual education, as implemented at the three research sites, enhances students' learning and their sense of personal identity, as well as affording them skills and understandings they deploy in their own increasingly technology-mediated lives.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
John G Dickie

<p>An investigation of sites, uses and practices for literacy in the lives of Pasifika students Lower test scores on school measures of literacy for Pasifika students than for the majority of students in New Zealand are a cause for concern. As part of a wider attempt to address this problem the Ministry of Education has argued that teachers need to be better informed of out-of-school literacy practices. This thesis considers what can be learned when this guidance is followed and it investigates students' social and cultural uses of literacy in family and community settings. It explores the argument that knowledge of these out-of-school literacies will inform teachers and through incorporation (McNaughton, 2002) teachers may be able to make effective connections for students to school literacy. A sociocultural perspective is used to investigate the social and cultural practices of the students while the study also uses Cremin's (1976) concept of configurations of sites to consider how learning is mediated for students in different settings. Rogoff's (1995) three planes of analysis provide a tool to examine students' practices at the community, interpersonal, and personal levels. The investigation sought the students' own perspective of how they appropriate knowledge about literacy as they collected information with cameras and journals on their own practices. The participants were 14 Pasifika students aged 11 and 12 years (mostly Samoan) as well as three adult Samoan church representatives and teachers from the students' school. Students' photos were used to elicit rich description in semi-structured interviews and interview schedules were also used with students and adult participants. The findings illustrate how the students were socialised into particular practices that are contextualised in the sites of family, church and neighbourhood. They reveal that for the students there was both overlapping of values and conflict between their sites of literacy practice. The complementarities occurred most strongly between family and church and a valued feature of the students' practice was the use of Samoan language. The most common conflicts were those related to popular culture and they occurred between the sites of family, church and school on the one hand and neighbourhood sites on the other as well as within family sites. The thesis argues that awareness of the complementary and conflicting features is essential for teachers in understanding the complexity the students face in choosing their paths among two cultures. This knowledge enables teachers to incorporate aspects of out-of-school literacy into school practice and to draw on those in the students' backgrounds who may facilitate students' literacy acquisition.</p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Herni Yuniarti Suhendi

Technology in education is a primary need for every individual. The learning process in school was not spared from technology. So that teachers and learners need to understand and proficient in using technology, both during the learning process and in everyday life. So far, literacy skills in Indonesia is still very low. This is indicated by PISA data, in 2009 Indonesian students are ranked 57th with a score of 295 (The average score on OECD is 402), while in 2012 Indonesian students are ranked 64th with a score of 396 (The average score on OECD is 496). The Ministry of Education and Culture developed Gerakan Literasi Sekolah to support the need for the above problems. Based on these problems, this study aims to determine the extent of students' technological literacy profiles in the city of Bandung. The method used is giving questionnaires to students. With this research is expected to increase the ability of technology literacy in learning to support the needs of science in the future


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 887-894
Author(s):  
Iva Andonova Stamenova

The report is devoted to the problem of reading with understanding in the fourth grade. The problem of the levels of reading literacy of elementary school pupils is also affected by international systems for assessing their achievements worldwide - PISA and PIRLS. The worrying results show that Bulgaria occupies one of the last places of literacy in the charts of the two international systems, which implies the necessity of introducing changes in the educational system. For this reason, the National External Assessment at the end of the 4th grade was introduced, based on the level of literacy and reader competence of our students.As a result of yearly tests and many expert studies, we disprove the information originally presented that we are at the bottom of the literacy chart in Europe. During the last few years, Bulgarian students have not only improved their literacy skills, but they have also been among the successful participants in national reading competitions, the project initiatives organized by the Ministry of Education and Science and the clubs for readership interests of the local libraries .Our pupils work on learning projects both in school time and in extracurricular activities that teachers place on their own. Design works are not only a pleasant activity for learners, but also a way of enriching the child's personality, building useful competencies and stimulating the development of creative activity. Apart from the above, the project activities allow students to share ideas, experiences, interests, teamwork, listen and respect with respect to their classmate's point of view, to communicate as equal partners in the process of project endeavors. Teamwork brings together the class and sets the foundations for a friendly work environment where each team member makes every effort to finalize the project.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-67
Author(s):  
Sameer Shdaifat ◽  
Jaafar Abusaa

The present study aimed to identify the occupational stress level of occupational education female and male teachers. It also aimed to identify whether there is any difference between the respondents’ occupational stress levels which can be attributed to their (gender, experience or school stage). The study’s population consists from all the all the occupational education female and male teachers who work at the public schools affiliated with the first and second directorates of education in Irbid (i.e. 320 teachers). As for the sample, it consists from 100 female and male teachers. Those teachers were selected through using the random stratified sampling method. Those teachers were selected from the public schools affiliated with the first and second directorates of education in Irbid. The researchers chose a descriptive survey research design. They developed an instrument (i.e. a questionnaire) for measuring the occupational stress level of teachers. It was found that the occupational stress level of the occupational education female and male teachers is high. It was found that there is a statistically significant difference between the respondents’ occupational stress levels which can be attributed to gender. The latter difference is for the favor of males.  It was found that there is a statistically significant difference between the respondents’ occupational stress levels which can be attributed to experience. The latter difference is for the favor of the ones who possess moderate experience. It was found that there is a statistically significant difference between the respondents’ occupational stress levels which can be attributed to the school stage. The latter difference is for the favor of the lower primary teachers. In the light of the aforementioned results, the researchers recommend exerting effort to reduce the occupational stress level of occupational education female and male teachers. Such efforts include creating convenient psychological and occupational environments. The researchers also recommend providing the lower primary teachers with attention by the Ministry of Education in Jordan. That can be done through providing those teachers with training & development programs. That can be also done through raising their socio-economic levels and providing them with financial & moral incentives & rewards.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Tamliha Harun

The purpose of this research is to find out how the implementation of the Smart Indonesia Program (PIP) at SMPN 3 Banjarbaru, Cempaka Subdistrict, Banjarbaru City, is it in accordance with the Regulation of the Director General of Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture Number: 1881 / D / BP / 2019 concerning Guidelines for Implementing the Smart Indonesia Program at the Basic Education level. This research is a descriptive study, with data collection techniques interview, observation, and documentation, then the results are analyzed qualitatively. The results of this study indicate that: a. Implementation of the Smart Indonesia Program (PIH), through the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) at SMPN 3 Banjarbaru has been running well and effectively, in accordance with applicable regulations; b. The number of students receiving assistance from the Smart Indonesia Program through the Smart Indonesia Card at SMPN 3 Banjarbaru was 228 students. However, there are some people who actually no longer meet the requirements, because the income of the parents / guardians of the students concerned has increased from before. KIP recipient students, the process of recapitulation, verification and input of student KIP recipient student data to Dapodik, until the disbursement and use of KIP funds by recipient students; d. The Smart Indonesia Program (PIH), through the Smart Indonesia Card (KIP) at SMPN 3 Banjarbaru, is very beneficial for students from poor or underprivileged families, so that the number of students dropping out of school can be reduced; e. However, there were still some students who received KIP or their guardians who did not understand the use of KIP funds, so they were used to finance expenses outside the context of their educational / school needs. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 125-136
Author(s):  
Yoong Soo May ◽  
Fu Sai Hoe ◽  
Wong Wei Lun ◽  
Lijuan Shen

This study aims to examine the perceptions of primary school teachers in Malaysia regarding dyscalculia using a survey. The researchers conducted the study using a quantitative design. The survey data had been collected using a questionnaire. The survey data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The questionnaire was adapted from Chinn’s (2020) checklist for dyscalculia with permission from Professor Dr. Steve Chinn. Thirty Mathematics teachers from Year One to Year Three in primary schools were randomly chosen. The severity of dyscalculia were analysed by using means and standard deviations. In contrast, independent t-tests were used to compare the severity of dyscalculia between school locations, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the severity of dyscalculia between different school types. According to teachers’ perceptions, the difficulty level for dyscalculic pupils in our country is medium-high (M=3.684, σ=.994). There is no significant difference in dyscalculia severity between school locations (p=.243, p>.05). However, there is a significant difference in dyscalculia severity between school types (p=.007, p.05). Dyscalculic pupils need to be detected since primary schools. The future agenda for this study is to design and develop an instrument in order to detect the dyscalculic pupils among the population. The disparities in dyscalculia severity levels between school types and s are important for the Ministry of Education, educators, teachers, and researchers. This is because it will be useful to determine the allocations of funding and resources so that the learning capability for pupils with different learning abilities can be improved to the maximum.


2007 ◽  
pp. 57-86
Author(s):  
Juliet McCaffery ◽  
Juliet Merrifield ◽  
Juliet Millican

Author(s):  
Hsiu-Ting Hung

The focus of the chapter is two-fold: on one hand, it seeks theoretical understanding of literacy as social practice; on the other hand, it explores how emerging technologies afford and transcend the practice of literacy in social interaction. The chapter begins with a re-conceptualization of literacy from the perspective of New Literacies Studies and outlines key principles pertaining to the plural notion of literacy to provide a theoretical context for the discussion of a multimodal approach to literacy learning. The chapter then links the development of the emerging literacy approach with the advent of technology to explore new possibilities in language and literacy classrooms. Vignettes of emerging technologies, more specifically, social networking services are also presented to demonstrate possible pedagogic uses of multimodal resources in education. The chapter concludes with directions for future literacy research, promoting a multimodal approach to learning that attends to teaching and learning with emerging technologies.


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