What Are "New Literacies?"

The definition of new literacies, according to Knobel and Lankshear (2006) begins with the exploration of two mindsets regarding knowledge.


The first mindset is defined by the notion that "the world is much the same as before, only now it is more technologized, or technologized in more sophisticated ways" (Knobel & Lankshear, 2006: 81). There is a focus on individualism, whereby intelligence is located in individual entities including people and institutions and spaces are viewed as rigid and closed.


Contrastingly, the second mindset perceives that "the world is very different to before, largely as a result of the emergence and uptake of digital electronic inter-networked technologies (Knobel & Lankshear, 2006: 81). Collectivism in terms of intelligence being collectively constructed and distributed is a defining element of this mindset, along with the notion that spaces are open and perpetual.


According to Knobel and Lankshear (2006) new literacies are a reflection of the values and notions involved in the second mindset. It is not necessary that new literacies involve the use of digital equipment,  however in reality they primarily do.






References


Knobel, M., & Lankshear, C. (2006). Discussing New Literacies, Language Arts, 84(1), 78.