Mapping Literacy-Rich Environments: Geospatial Perspectives on Literacy and Education

• In Event: Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Alternative Approaches to Literacy and Learning

Abstract

In this presentation, we propose a shift in perspective in conceptualizing “literacy rich environments” (LREs) as vital not only in childhood but also across the lifespan. We borrow and operationalize the term LRE to account for different variables such as age, gender, race, income, and schools as situated in particular neighborhoods. This confluence is illustrated through the use of geographic information systems (GIS) where geospatial relationships between what we are calling literacy rich environments and educational and cultural institutions are made explicit. Specifically, we will discuss key findings along with visual analyses of maps from the St. Louis area to offer some insights into the “ecology” of literacy in the urban metropolitan.

Authors

• Korina Jocson, Washington University in St. Louis

• Elizabeth Thorne Wallington, Washington University in St. Louis