Sunday, February 12, 2012

Domain VS Content Literacy

In doing some reading, I found a reference to Swafford and Kallus (2002) defining "Content LIteracy" as

Content area literacy is exemplified by individuals who use 1) their background knowledge; 2) print and

nonprint texts; 3) developing technologies; and 4) the tools of reading, writing, speaking, listening,

representing, viewing, and other sign systems to explore, construct, learn, and communicate information

within a variety of social and cultural contexts both in and out of school (p.14).

The quote was in a newsletter from the Learning Development Center of Rochester University.  The article was aimed at helping the teachers better help their students by be good role models for how to study and learn.

For "Domain Literacy", however, there was no consensus on the meaning. The term domain seems to be used rather broadly.  Therefore, one can conclude a) a person competent in assimilating into a new cultural group (moving to the city from a rural area, or a new country),
b) being proficient in one of the domains of literacy: reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing, and visually representing.
c) being proficient in literacy, math, or science.

So...Domain literacy seems to be concentrated on specific content, while Content literacy seems more far-reaching - encompassing print and technological information gathering and assimilation.

I think I just confused myself.....

I'm certainly open to comments.

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