This book re-examines the field of New Literacy Studies and promotes a shift away from binary constructions of literacies as 'old' or 'new' and to encourage critical reflection on the part of readers as to the uses of these constructs. First, the book examines the entanglement of pasts, presents and futures in contemporary literacy practices. Second, it considers representations of literacies as actors, having their own power and consequences. Third, it critically examines the place of 'new' and 'old' literacies in a marketplace in which social, economic and political power advantage is contested. The book demonstrates the use of assemblage theory drawing on semiotics, geo-semiotics and Actor Network Theory for analyzing literacies as assemblages. It provides readers with tools of analysis with which to interrogate claims made for the value of literacy, innovations and traditions alike. It also discusses implications for literacy policy, curriculum, teacher education and research.

Facebook, blogs, texts, computer games, instant messages... The ways in which we make meanings and engage with each other are changing. Are you a student teacher trying to get to grips with these new digital technologies? Would you like to find ways to make use of them in your classroom? Digital technologies are an everyday part of life for students and Understanding Digital Literacies explores the ways in which they can be used in schools. Carrington and Robinson provide an insight into the research on digital technologies, stressing its relevance for schools, and suggest ways to develop new, more relevant pedagogies, particularly for social learning, literacy and literate practices. With a practical focus, the examples and issues explored in this book will help you to analyse your own practice and to carry out your own small-scale research projects. Explaining the theoretical issues and demonstrating their practical implementation, this topical book will be an essential resource to new student teachers on undergraduate and PGCE courses, and those returning to postgraduate study.

Situated at the intersection of two of the most important areas in educational research today — literacy and technology — this handbook draws on the potential of each while carving out important new territory. It provides leadership for this newly emerging field, directing scholars to the major issues, theoretical perspectives, and interdisciplinary research pertaining to new literacies. Reviews of research are organized into six sections: Methodologies Knowledge and Inquiry Communication Popular Culture, Community, and Citizenship: Everyday Literacies Instructional Practices and Assessment Multiple Perspectives on New Literacies Research FEATURES Brings together a diverse international team of editors and chapter authors Provides an extensive collection of research reviews in a critical area of educational research Makes visible the multiple perspectives and theoretical frames that currently drive work in new literacies Establishes important space for the emerging field of new literacies research Includes a unique Commentary section: The final section of the Handbook reprints five central research studies. Each is reviewed by two prominent researchers from their individual, and different, theoretical position. This provides the field with a sense of how diverse lenses can be brought to bear on research as well as the benefits that accrue from doing so. It also provides models of critical review for new scholars and demonstrates how one might bring multiple perspectives to the study of an area as complex as new literacies research. The Handbook of Research on New Literacies is intended for the literacy research community, broadly conceived, including scholars and students from the traditional reading and writing research communities in education and educational psychology as well as those from information science, cognitive science, psychology, sociolinguistics, computer mediated communication, and other related areas that find literacy to be an important area of investigation.

With contributions from leading scholars, this compelling volume offers fresh insights into literacy teaching and learning—and the changing nature of literacy itself—in today's K–12 classrooms. The focus is on varied technologies and literacies such as social networking sites, text messaging, and online communities. Cutting-edge approaches to integrating technology into traditional, print-centered reading and writing instruction are described. Also discussed are ways to teach the new skills and strategies that students need to engage effectively with digital texts. The book is unique in examining new literacies through multiple theoretical lenses, including behavioral, semiotic, cognitive, sociocultural, critical, and feminist perspectives.

The study of new literacies is quickly emerging as a major research field. This book «samples» work in the broad area of new literacies research along two dimensions. First, it samples some typical examples of new literacies - video gaming, fan fiction writing, weblogging, role play gaming, using websites to participate in affinity practices, memes, and other social activities involving mobile technologies. Second, the studies collectively sample from a wide range of approaches potentially available for researching and studying new literacies from a sociocultural perspective. Readers will come away with a rich sense of what new literacies are, and a generous appreciation of how they are being researched.

Teaching the Language Arts helps readers envision their future classrooms, including the role technology will play, as they prepare to be effective teachers. The book’s multimedia digital format represents a distinctive way to learn about teaching—combining traditional and electronic content, resources, and pedagogy to create a powerful, interactive experience that encourages active learning. Readers can explore a rich array of teaching tools and experiences, including an effective blend of classroom photographs (taken by the authors during school visits), student samples, podcast interviews with teachers and students, classroom videos, and online resources—all of which allow readers to learn from real-world classrooms. This book’s unique and engaging voice, supported by its multimedia approach, will help future and in-service teachers bring the language arts to life in their own classrooms. Visit the Companion Website at www.routledge.com/cw/dobler for information on accessing the interactive e-book and additional ideas and resources to help you and your students use it to its full potential.

"The teaching of literacy is a high priority for teachers and for governments, yet some of the approaches commonly used are very limiting, joyless and, ultimately, ineffective. In contrast, Fred Sedgwick shows how literacy can be combined with, and promoted through, a love of reading and children's ability to think and write creatively." Using a wide variety of rich resources, the author shows how to put creative approaches into practice and illustrates, through children's work, just how rewarding those results can be.

This book is intended to offer an introduction to some major themes in literacy education. Literacy has become an important issue both in the UK and internationally, and this book aims to inform discussions while assisting teachers to reflect on their work as literacy teachers. Literacy is important from the earliest years through all the years of formal education, and so this book covers work with students in the full range of schooling, and in a number of different subject areas. Topics covered include: *the nature and use of texts *the reading positions that are constructed in texts and their ideological implications *the ways in which written texts change as students grow older *moving from the early years through to secondary education *the implications of Information Technology for literacy teaching Frances Christie is Foundation Professor of Language and Literacy Education at the University of Melbourne. Ray Misson is Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education at the University of Melbourne.