Let us understand what is literacy?
Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute using the printed and written materials linked with changeable contexts.
Now we must know why literacy is important?
Students need to read and write in order to share a written word in everyday life.
Think about how often you use your reading skills in everyday life. It is not just articles like these that require reading and writing, but symbols, labels, and messages on your phone.
Nowadays, even telephones have replaced the instant messaging and text-based communications, making reading ability more important.
But beyond the level of practice, literacy plays an important role in transforming students into citizens involved in society. Literacy means being able to keep up with current events, communicate effectively, and understand the issues that make up our world.
When we think of literacy, we usually think of being able to read and write. However, our understanding of literacy skills is often limited by our educational experience. Those of us in the field of education know that there are many forms of literacy, all of which help us to stay healthy and fully involved in our democratic society.
Let us discuss the types of literacy in brief:
1. Reading and Writing
More than just knowing how to read and write, it is very important to be literate in understanding and communicating what you have read and then you can express in your own words what is understood.
2. Numerical Literacy
Now this is the kind of learning, the ability to apply mathematical skills in everyday life and the ability to use numbers to solve problems or to manage money. It is more comprehensive and understanding of charts, diagrams and data. Problem solving and looking for answers by explaining solutions in a logical way.
3. Digital Literacy
This means being able to use technology analytically, navigating various online forums and devices, understanding how technology works and being able to use technology intelligently to solve problems and express oneself.
4. Health Literacy
This type of literacy allows you to understand the type of health care system such as medication, to consult with doctors and specialists and to get the help needed by support staff. Having unhealthy health skills in health is dangerous and can lead to taking the wrong medication, having trouble following instructions from your doctor about lifestyle, diet, and referrals, lack of appointments, and so on.
5. Financial Literacy
Having good statistics is the ability to understand and manage your finances. Financial literacy is having the knowledge, skills and confidence to make sound financial decisions including, understanding how money works and how it is spent in your life, financial planning for the future and managing your finances, and making the best use of the resources at our disposal.
6. Media Literacy
It means your ability to understand the messages you are being told on television, on the radio, in video games, in movies, in the news, on social media, and more. Basically, media reading means understanding, the media is built with a specific purpose in mind, designed to make you think something, people will see the same thing and understand it differently, constructive media is business and reflects political and cultural ideas.
7. Cultural Literacy
Cultural learning is the ability to understand all the languages, methods, thoughts and unspoken ideas that shape behavior and communication. The advantage of having a good understanding of cultural learning to know how to avoid misunderstandings and interacting well with people of other cultures. Knowing your cultural background makes you more empathetic and knowledgeable.