Exploring Prospective Teachers' Perception of New Literacies/Multimodality: Lessons Learned in a Teacher Preparation Course

• In Event: 26.079 - Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: 26.079-12 - New Literacies in Teacher Preparation

Abstract

Teacher education in literacy teaching traditionally focuses on skills of handling printed text. However, the rapid development of globalization, influence of Internet technologies and social networking, and growth of linguistic and cultural diversity have brought forward challenges in dealing with literacy in daily life. Thus, there is an urgency to prepare literacy teachers to take into account of these sociocultural factors and integrate new literacies and multimodality in their literacy teaching for children of the 21st century. This study explores ten preservice teachers’ perception of new literacies and multimodality in a teacher preparation course by documenting their learning and changing of perspectives through a five-week exploratory unit. Implications are drawn for improving teacher education in literacy.

Author

• Hsiao-Chin Kuo, Western Michigan University