Teaching secondary school literacies with ICT - Moira Monteith

There is an immensely important conjunction between literacy and Informationand Communications Technology (ICT). This book considers the application ofICT in raising and widening literacy achievements within the classroom, andexplores ways that ICT can be harnessed to help students develop their literacyskills.

Teaching Secondary School Literacies with ICT supports educators in this aimby offering creative examples of good practice. It provides commentary andresearch into what adolescent students are doing, both in formal educationand socially, with regard to ICT and literacy, including:

• Computer mediated communication
• Literacy implications of computer games and chatrooms
• Parents and children using the internet at home, and the implicit literacy skillsinvolved

Several contributors provide useful insights into the debate around teenageliteracy cultures and literacy in schools. For example, in schools, word processingand keyboard skills are valued; yet thumb-controlled technologies (games con-soles, texting) are denigrated. This book argues that if we are to encourage pupilsto develop the literacy skills they need for the 21st century, we need a morepositive and creative response to these popular forms of literacy.

This inspiring book is key reading for trainee and practising teachers, literacyadvisers and policy makers.

Moira Monteith is an educational consultant. She was previously a principallecturer in ICT in Education at Sheffield Hallam University, and before thata teacher. Her previous publications include ICT in the Primary School(Open University Press, 2002).