EDU-530 Theoretical and Social Found of Literacy

The focus of this course is to lay the groundwork for making evidence-based instructional literacy decisions, and to begin the process of appreciating the need to communicate complex ideas to multiple stakeholders in literacy education. To accomplish these goals, students will: understand current theoretical perspectives in literacy education and literacy acquisition (such as the Piagetian and Vygotskian theories); understand the impact of research and diversity on literacy education; explore the impact literacy and lack of literacy have on individuals; and explore the social-cultural implications surrounding the competing theories of literacy education. To accomplish these goals, the course examines: the evolution of theories of learning that apply to literacy; research that has contributed to evolving models and definitions of reading; and the contributions of theories of literacy (reading and writing) as language-based processes. The course examines this information in the context of social, cultural, and political milieu of education in the United States. An important factor in understanding and using theories is the ability to recognize one's own history, biases and beliefs, and how these impact one's own interpretation and implementation of knowledge. This course begins with students engaging in a self-reflective review of their own literacy learning and beliefs, and how that history and those beliefs affect their literacy education beliefs.