Key Takeaways:
Among the many skills we learn in life, few are more critical than the ability to read and write effectively. Through reading and writing, we can share ideas, preserve information and explore different ways of life. While languages and alphabets differ around the world, literacy, or the ability to understand and derive meaning from the written word, is an essential skill across all cultures. Proper literacy training through education truly equips us with the skills necessary to be successful.
Literacy helps mitigate poverty, creates job opportunities and positively impacts our health. Despite recent progress in expanding literacy, many people across the U.S. and around the world lack basic literacy skills. A critical first step in boosting literacy equity in education is understanding why literacy in education is essential and how it can influence future success. Ahead, I will discuss more about literacy in education, the role of technology in literacy, the current state of literacy in the U.S. and ways that we can take action.
Literacy in Education
Literacy in education is the foundation for all other academic knowledge and skills. Learning to read with comprehension and write effectively opens the door to shared knowledge, understanding, communication and critical thinking. This broader view influences our perception of our world and how it impacts us.
Literacy skills are critical to education since they influence students’ abilities to learn about challenging topics, communicate thoughtfully and retain information. Teachers are crucial in helping students fully develop these skills. When educators create an environment where literacy is a priority, students are empowered to become engaged learners.
Learning environments that promote literacy not only help students become proficient in reading and writing, it also helps them understand and gain other forms of literacy, including digital, media, health and more. With new technological advancements, educators with access to digital education tools can leverage them to create engaging learning environments. Striving to create these types of environments and ensuring that people are equipped with literacy skills is critical in allowing them to become successful professionals, opening pathways to socioeconomic mobility and overall improved well-being.
The Role of Technology in Literacy
Teaching a child or an adult to read is difficult, as the available resources and an individual’s learning style and needs will vary by person. As more schools have integrated technology into classrooms, teachers are challenged more than ever to integrate new teaching methods into their lesson plans. Educators who integrate digital learning methods into their teaching pedagogy can potentially improve their classroom performance and results. Some of the benefits can include:
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Of course, not every school has equitable access to new technological resources. For example, the digital divide, which is part of the equitable access issue, became more obvious than ever during the shift to online learning in 2020. When schools shut their doors and pivoted to digital learning platforms, many students had difficulty keeping up due to a lack of access to proper technology or sufficient internet connection — both critical aspects of digital learning. As a result, many students struggled to keep up, which has the potential to negatively impact their future opportunities.
If we do not address the digital divide in the U.S. education system, many more students will be left behind.
The Current State of Literacy in the U.S.
Despite our understanding of the critical need for literacy skills, many Americans lack proficiency. According to data from the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, 54% of Americans between the ages of 16 and 74 have inadequate literacy skills. To put it into perspective, that means about 130 million Americans are reading below a sixth-grade level. In particular, Black and Latino Americans are at an increased risk of being illiterate. Much of this disparity can be attributed to inequitable barriers to wealth, healthcare and education.
Data like this is critical to helping our society realize the drastic need for improvement, which can be a catalyst for progress. Unfortunately, information about literacy in the U.S. is limited. For example, the most recent National Assessment for Adult Literacy (NAAL) was conducted two decades ago. To mitigate literacy disparities and create tailored action plans for communities, data about literacy in the U.S. needs to be collected and reported more regularly.
How to Improve Literacy
The literacy gap in the U.S. is a longstanding issue that has been exacerbated in recent years. As the education system continues to heal from the pandemic, the U.S. has a unique opportunity to reassess issues that contribute to the literacy gap and make improvements to the system. While observations such as International Literacy Day are important, they are not enough. To create lasting change, education professionals, families and allies need to take collective action to push policymakers and community groups toward sustainable action. Here are some simple ways to take action:
Without action, illiteracy will continue to hinder opportunities and possibly the future success of students and adults. Since the populations that need the most help with literacy are primarily Black Americans, Latinos and Latinas, failing to address illiteracy will perpetuate the racial wealth gap. Not only will that be a loss for these communities, but it will also be a loss for the U.S. economy for generations to come.
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