Literacies in the Day in the Life of One Thriving Elder

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: Circulation of Affect, Emotion, Materiality, and Différance in Literacies

Abstract

This paper draws on one case from a study of elders’ literacy practices to consider ways in which everyday literacy practices create opportunities for wellbeing across the lifespan. The study adopted a modified version of “day in the life” methodology (Gillen & Cameron, 2010). Data sources were semi-structured and open-ended interviews with one resident of an elders’ residence, photographs of artifacts that the elder identified as important to her wellbeing, and field notes composed during three half-day shadowing sessions. The analysis was informed by sociocultural understandings of literacy, including the notion of (im)materiality (Burnett, Merchant, Pahl, & Rowsell, 2014). The paper identifies implications for educators who seek to expand literacy learning opportunities with/for elders and other populations.

Authors

• Rachel May Heydon, University of Western Ontario

• Rosamund Kathryn Stooke, University of Western Ontario