Reflections on adolescent literacy as sociocultural practice
Information and Learning Sciences
ISSN: 2398-5348
Article publication date: 23 November 2022
Issue publication date: 6 December 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to discuss the concept of “literacy” within the new literacy, new literacies and library and information science (LIS) discourses. It proposes widening the prevailing LIS conceptualization of adolescent literacy, which focuses largely on information literacy in academic settings, to a broader, information practice-based, sociocultural framing that encompasses the full range of adolescents’ everyday life contexts.
Design/methodology/approach
The author presents a literature review and personal reflection on a series of adolescent information activities to show the value of framing the LIS discourse on adolescent literacy within a broader sociocultural perspective.
Findings
Based on the discussion, the author proposes a framework for future investigations of adolescents’ literacy practices that views adolescent literacy as fundamentally social and communicative; multiformat; multicontextual; multigenerational; and culturally situated.
Originality/value
A broader sociocultural approach to the LIS information literacy discourse can lead to deeper understanding of the co-constructed and collaborative nature of adolescents’ new literacies practices. It can also enable stronger recognition of the impact of power and privilege on adolescent literacy practices. Finally, this essay shows the value of reflecting on adolescent information activities for challenging narrow views of literacy and highlights the social embeddedness of new literacies activities in adolescents’ everyday lives.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author thanks Sam Kirk, Manager for Curricula Support at Drexel Libraries, for her assistance in literature searching for this paper.
Above all, the author thanks R. for her generosity in permitting the author to analyze her activities in this semipublic forum and for sharing her evolving literacy practices with the author over the years.
Citation
Agosto, D.E. (2022), "Reflections on adolescent literacy as sociocultural practice", Information and Learning Sciences, Vol. 123 No. 11/12, pp. 723-737. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-02-2022-0013
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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