Abstract E.D. Hirsch asserts that there are basic cultural concepts and ideas that must be known in order to communicate and thrive in ones community. This paper gives a brief history of the author and analyzes his idea that modern education is a failure since it does not leave students culturally literate. The paper concludes that education should be modified to allow for intergenerational knowledge.
From the Paper "In his book Cultural Literacy, subtitled "What Every American Needs to Know," E.D. Hirsch Jr. begins with the fact that there are certain ideas and certain facts which we all assume that other people know. When we talk to people and make certain cultural references, we expect to be understood (assuming we are speaking to someone also from this same culture, of course). In the course of his book, though, Hirsch shifts from what we expect people know to his subtitle, detailing what he believes every American should know in order to be an American citizen."
Abstract This paper considers the definition of literacy in divergent examples, specifically in regards to the Amish, a Broadway play, and a University Academic Integrity committee. The paper outlines the complexity of defining and applying concepts of literacy by reviewing three representative texts describing different approaches to literacy in these three communities.
From the Paper "Literacy is a seemingly simple concept that, upon close inspection, has many interpretations. On a base level it indicates the ability to read and write and could therefore be viewed as a value-neutral process in which people learn a tool that they can then use to gather or produce written communication. However, once one begins to consider what literacy means in different cultural contexts, the concept takes on a level of complexity that suggests learning to communicate is influenced by class distinctions, religious beliefs, personal integrity, and many other factors. This paper will consider the concept of literacy through the prisms of what it means to three different communities: an Old Order Amish community, a University Academic Discipline Committee and the New York literati as regarding a play produced on Broadway."
Abstract This paper examines how both Jerome Bruner and E.D. Hirsch, Jr. have made significant contributions to the public discourse surrounding education. It looks at how Bruner's "The Process of Education", first published in the 1960s has greatly influenced the development of today's curriculum, and how, in his book, "CulturalLiteracy: What Every American Needs to Know". Hirsch argues that the current curriculum fails to provide today's students with the culturalliteracy that they need to communicate effectively. It summarizes and analyzes the contribution of both of these authors and their respective works in relation to the field of educational curriculum development.
From the Paper "Bruner notes that when students understand the structure of a subject, they can then relate this information to a large number of other things that may seem unrelated. He uses the structural concept of tropism in biology to make this point. Tropism is simply the involuntary tendency of an organism to orient toward or away from external stimuli. He notes that tropism occurs when the swarm density of locusts is related to temperature, and the movement of insects to different altitudes is related to their preferred oxygen content (thus preventing cross breeding). As such, he notes that understanding the fundamental concept of tropism allows students to understand a large number of phenomena within the biological realm."
Abstract This essay is an in-depth analysis of intellectual property law in an historical context. The specific history can be divided into two periods of cultural development, orality and literacy. The concept of intellectual property (individual ownership of creative work) was not present in oral cultures, but it is enshrined in law in literate cultures. This essay draws on the works of communications scholars like Walter Ong and Dan Lacy in order to establish these facts, and then proceeds to analyze them using one of Marshall McCluhan's most famous insights, that ?the medium is the message.? What this essay shows is that the medium of information preservation in oral cultures is fundamentally different than that of literate cultures. One medium supports the concept of intellectual property, and one does not. In other words, the medium determines the morals of the time. What is considered theft in literate culture is just sharing in oral culture. This examination of intellectual property in historical context is especially relevant today, with the current legal disputes over intellectual property in the music industry.
From the Paper "At this moment in 2001, intellectual property is a hot topic. The right to own an idea is being debated in fields as disparate as medicine and the music industry. In historical context, however, intellectual property is a relatively new concept. The first modern copyright law only emerged in 1710 and the People's Republic of China did not have a copyright system until 1991. In contrast, the first known cave painting dates to 31,000 BC. Humans have been creating for thousands of years, but those expressions were only defined as personal property quite recently. The exact moment of this definition is still debated by experts: some say it came with the first copyright law, some say it began with the printing press in 1436, and others say that it emerged with "the artist with a markedly individual personality" in 6th century BC Greece (Ploman and Hamilton 5). Regardless of the specific point of division, copyright as we know it today was not present in ancient oral cultures (Bettig 11) and is not present in modern oral cultures like that of the Balinese (Ploman and Hamilton 4). Why the concept of intellectual property is evident in highly literate cultures and not in oral cultures can perhaps be best understood in terms of the social and political context of their respective historical periods. One explanation that emerges is that the chosen mediums of oral and literate cultures are qualitatively different and that each engenders a different set of social norms to guide intellectual production. What this paper seeks to do is to pursue this line of questioning by discerning what the medium was for each culture, analyzing the nature of each medium, and, finally, explaining how the medium determined whether or not the concept of intellectual property emerged."
Abstract This paper discusses psychological, humanistic and socio-cultural theories relating to the teacher's methods of instruction in the classroom. The paper further discusses the theories of Gee, Pressley, Heath and Snow in relation to the classroom instruction, and draws conclusions on the Snapshot information based upon these theories. The paper examines language development in the classroom, as well as cultural and linguistic elements evident in the Snapshot. The paper draws conclusions based on the research and information regarding the teacher's effective approaches to instruction.
From the Paper "In modern education there are a variety of approaches to teaching and learning that can be constructed in the classroom. Theories are evolving every day that lead many teachers to approach instruction with innovative methods that do not strictly adhere to a single discipline, but rather draw from many concepts in order to address the learning styles that students bring with them to the classroom. Holistic of humanistic approaches to teaching serve educators and students with a guided approach that allows students the opportunity for exploration. Socio-cultural concepts demonstrate that each student brings with him or her a variety of knowledge, and a background that is as individual as the learner. Psychological approaches to learning suggest that skill be will based upon acquisition and that these acquisitions will be enhanced by learning."
Abstract This paper discusses literacy issues for children living in Australia. The paper begins by examining the many differing conceptions of how to define literacy and exactly which elements constitute the amorphous area of literacy. Then, the paper looks at the varying types of literacy teaching in schools. The paper also discusses the intense scrutiny that the subject of childhood literacy is coming under in Australia. Reports of declining literacy levels led to a perception of a "literacy crisis", which has prompted government officials to take action. This paper also explores those steps.
From the Paper "The importance of spoken language should not be underestimated in the acquisition of literacy. Obviously, the need for literacy will not be relevant to societies where there is no written form of their language, therefore the following discussion will be limited to societies with written forms of their language thus leading to expectations of literacy. Whilst spoken and written language are interrelated, there are also differences between them. The first difference is that spoken language predates written language in history (Stubbs, 1980, p.25). Naturally, it is not possible to make an assertion as to the time differential, however it is logical to state that people have always needed to be able to orally communicate."
Abstract This paper analyze three articles relating to childhood literacy and literacy in the home. It discusses how the family can contribute to the literacy of young children. The paper explores various literacy learning opportunities.
From the Paper "This article looks at how the family can contribute to the literacy of young children and how teachers can continue the early process begun at home to help children learn in, what is to them, a more natural setting the classroom becomes ..."
Tags: childhood literacy, home learning, family literacyparental assessment
Abstract This is a three page paper on the importance of literacy in modern society. The essay examines this question briefly from a variety of stances. Included are points regarding the value of an educated populace, the literacy requirements of modern businesses, and the centrality of literacy to modern education.
From the Paper "The modern world demands literacy as the cost for success in nearly every avenue of life. Literacy is fundamental to the operation and furtherance of Western civilization. A literate citizenry is wider read, understands more complex issues, and is better capable of functioning in society. In short, a literate population is a stronger What makes literacy so important to modern life? Laymen often challenge this conception, arguing that once they graduated from school they never picked up another book. However, this picture of reading doesn't take into account the sometimes-central role that literacy can play in the workplace. The United Way estimates that illiteracy costs U.S. businesses and taxpayers roughly $20 billion a year. Additionally, $5 billion a year is spent in the U.S. supporting individuals who are unemployed because of illiteracy (Korkki 7)."
Abstract This high-level paper examines adult literacy education through use of technology. According to the study, this approach enhances the learning experience and outcomes of the adult learner. This is accomplished through technological aides in the classroom and in distance learning initiatives. The adult literacy programs were implemented in order to train and retrain adult workers in order to optimize the workforce. The findings of this study also show that the adult learner and the world-at-large benefits from this enhancement in the educational provision of the adult literacy learner.
Table of Contents:
Discussion of Literature Reviewed
Findings of the Study
Limitations of the Study
Recommendations of the Study
Bibliography
From the Paper "This research proposes that just as an adult must be literate in the languages, technology is in essence a language as well in which literacy acquisition begets the acquisition of literacy, which may indeed be transferable across-literacy just as language principles are transferable across language learning for the bilingual student. Technology is global in nature and is that spoken worldwide in many initiatives, efforts and processes. Technology is 'key' in adult literacy acquisition both in terms of the tools and aides provided and in the acquisition of the language of technology as well. "
Abstract This paper studies the Bronze Age which was one of the great eras of our European past. It describes the widespread adoption of bronze metallurgy across Europe at the time, as well as the many technological advances. It examines the levels of literacy as well as the society and the writings of the Bronze Age scribes. It also discusses "The Linear B Decipherment" and how Evans continued to study it after the Balkan War. Finally, the paper concludes that the effects of writing and literacy on society were great and significant.
From the Paper "Anthropologists and archaeologists call certain societies "iron age" or ?bronze age.? In doing this they recognize that the properties of the main metal used by a society's technology greatly affect both its use and through this the nature of that society. For instance, bronze unlike iron is too soft to be used for ploughing; it is an alloy. Bronze can be smelted at lower temperatures than iron which need specialized supplies of charcoal. All these facts affect societies which use bronze and iron. For example, since bronze cannot be used for ploughing these societies cannot produce in many regions the large agriculture surplus iron societies can; since bronze requires tin bronze age societies had to trade, etc. (Claiborne, 1974) I believe the same parallel exists between the different characteristics of different writing systems and its use as a communication technology in a society."
Abstract This paper studies the effect of female literacy on population growth. Using the 2SLS model, this paper establishes a negative relationship between the two. A comparative analysis of the two states of India, Bihar and Kerala, reveals the same trend. However, the paper brings out the subtle differences in the social ethos of these states. The paper distinctly establishes the dominant role of female literacy in population control and recommends suitable priorities to public policy planners
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Literature Review
Population Theories and Economic Growth
Human Capital and Endogenous Growth Models
Which Factors Influence Population Growth
The Dominant Factor Debate
The Religious Factor Debate
The "Traditional" Factor Debate
Data and Methodology
District Level Macro Analysis Methodology
Block Level Micro Analysis Methodology
Findings
The District Level Macro Findings
Analysis by Each Variable
Block Level Micro Findings
The Spatial Analysis and the "Patna Puzzle"?
Conclusion and Policy Recommendations
References
End Notes
Appendices
From the Paper "The past decade (1991-2001) has been a watershed for India in more ways than one. While this decade saw the boldest economic reforms in India's history making it possible to emerge from the Hindu Rate of Growth, the decade also witnessed the sharpest decline in population growth (2.52% points, See Chart 1) coupled with the sharpest increase in female literacy (14.87% points) since Independence. A somewhat similar feat was achieved by the Indian State of Bihar for the period 1991-1997 where it registered a high literacy growth with the sharpest expected decadal decline in population growth (1.68% points) . Unfortunately, after 1997, unprecedented political instability led to the State slipping on these indices so much so that it finally registered a dismal performance on both the fronts of female literacy (lowest in the country) and population growth ( 2.8%, which is higher than the national average of 2.1%) for the entire decade (1991-2001) taken as a whole. An exceedingly good performance in this area (both at the national level and the State level) has prompted me to explore whether literacy (particularly female literacy) carries a more direct bearing on population control than other methods such as mass media campaigns, family planning, and sterilization."
Abstract This investigation was conducted with 100 fifth grade students, one library media specialist and four fifth grade teachers in order to determine whether collaboration between the media specialist and two classroom teachers causes an increase in information literacy scores in the two classes of fifth grade students (50 students) when compared with the control group of two fifth grade classes (50 students). The summary, conclusion, implications and recommendations maintain that the collaborative teaching approach provides both learning disabled and their non-disadvantaged peers with improved opportunities for achieving academic, social and vocational success. This complete dissertation contains several original graphs and appendices.
Outline
Abstract
List of Tables
Chapter I Introduction
Chapter II: Comprehensive Review of the Literature
Background
Historical Perspectives
Role Clarification
Partnerships with Principals
Media Specialist Collaboration with Teachers
Student Considerations
Theoretical Basis for the Study Summary
Chapter III: Method of Investigation
References
Appendix A. The Big Six Skills Approach
Appendix B. Checklist based on the Literacy Standards for Students
Chapter IV: Data Analysis
Chapter V: Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
From the Paper "The work of librarians has dramatically changed in recent decades. Today's librarian is primarily a teacher of information literacy (Eisenberg, 2002), and as such, collaborates with classroom teachers to ensure that they are effective users of ideas and information. As a partner, the school librarian, now entitled "media specialist," joins with teachers and students to help them learn how students to use a wide variety of print, nonprint, and electronic information resources. In many ways, the media specialist helps everyone in the school become more adept at participating in electronic information retrieval. The media specialist is an ambassador and a diplomat, showing everyone in the school how to use the Internet, search engines, and electronic databases. It is very important that the combined staff of teachers and media specialist have common goals, a shared vision and work together in a climate of trust and respect (Muronago & Harada, 1999). The research question to be investigated is whether collaboration of a media specialist with fifth grade teachers in fact increases the information literacy of the students in the classrooms."
Abstract This paper looks at the lack of literacy seen in older students and the different methods for correcting the problem. It examines some of the current practices used to improve literacy, particularly the program of Jane Fell Greene, known as "Language!".
From the Paper "There is a serious problem in this country among young people because they cannot read well enough to get a good job with a career path once they leave school, participate in civic responsibilities or even read a book or newspaper. Because of their low level of practical literacy, they are being left behind at a time when society and the workplace are becoming increasingly technological and requiring higher levels of reading, writing and communication skills to compete. The No Child Left Behind Act attempts to..."
Abstract The paper identifies two research articles that examine the importance of emergent literacy in the overall reading development of young children, particularly in at-risk situations. The paper maintains, therefore, that young children must be provided with literacy techniques that will capture their interest through creativity and other effective developmental strategies.
From the Paper "The creation of emergent literacy programs requires a comprehensive analysis of existing research and specific evaluation of journal articles is one of the most effective strategies for analysis. A wide body of research exists regarding this topic which covers many populations and evidence suggests that emergent literacy is one of the most interesting strategies that is available for educators in today's world (Yaden, Rowe, & MacGillivray, 1999). The following discussion will examine two journal articles regarding emergent literacy, evaluating their perspectives on the topic and the effectiveness of this strategy in promoting positive educational outcomes."
Abstract The paper discusses literacy in the United States. It further examines issues related to literacy and education, as well as how individuals can seem to be literate, but maintain comprehension levels that identify illiteracy. The paper also analyzes what this impact has on the future of today's children, and conclusions are drawn based upon the research.
From the Paper "Americans traditionally think of literacy in terms of educational programs that enhance the lives of children through their ability to read and write. When society then discusses illiteracy those thoughts immediately transfer to images of individuals who do not have the ability to even decode the alphabet. However, in the United States there are currently millions of children that would be considered literate; yet, they have the comprehension rates of those that are illiterate, because somewhere in their lives during education they stopped expanding their abilities in reading. This situation causes many individuals to be destined to lives of poverty, and forced to be outcast from the social order because of their inability to read. It is contended, therefore, that literacy is significant in American society because it has the ability to offer everyone an equal chance at success, and can be a tool that alters life for millions."
