NCTE is taking the lead in defining how emergent technologies are used to teach language, literacies, and critical thinking skills as well as how ethical considerations can guide the use of various technologies. The research, policy statements and resources collected here demonstrate how twenty-first century literacy can be enacted and supported. By exploring the information here and becoming aware of the initiatives that contribute to the development of new approaches, you can learn more about twenty-first century literacies.
Strategic Governance
In November 2003, the NCTE Executive Committee adopted a new model of policy-oriented style of governance for the Council. They have studied the meaning and ramifications of this issue for the organization as a whole. Learn more about:
NCTE Policy Research Briefs
These research briefs provide research-based recommendations for teaching 21st Century Literacies:
- 21st Century Litericies brief discusses successful instruction with technology focuses on critical thinking, reflection, and integration.
- Research Clips are short research-based responses to questions about practice and is a supplement to the 21st Century Literacies policy brief.
- Literacy Learning in the 21st Century brief notes how digitization shapes assessment, student engagements, and information gathering so programs of instruction should create coherent K-12 programs.
- Reading and Writing Differently brief discusses how new media are changing reading and writing textually relationally, spatially and temporally.
- Writing in the 21st Century is a new report that discusses writing in school, the workplace, and civic society. It is written by Kathleen Blake Yancey, NCTE Past President , writing researcher and writing faculty member, Florida State University.
NCTE Media Litacy Award
A resolution passed by the members at the 2003 San Francisco Convention on Composing with Non-Print Media, made the creation of this award especially timely. The resolution recommended the encouragement of preservice, inservice, and staff development programs that focus on new literacies, multi-media composition and a broadened concept of literacy. The award showcases NCTE members who have developed innovative approaches for integrating media analysis and composition into their instruction.
Lesson Plans from ReadWriteThink
These classroom-tested lesson plans provide ready resources for teachers working with students from kindergarten to high school.
Pathways for 21st Century Literacies is an online professional development opportunity for teachers, coaches and administrators to develop understanding and skills required working with 21st Century Literacies. Essential questions, video clips, related readings and tools for classroom application guide individuals or groups in an investigation this emerging literacy.
NCTE Consultants
Bring an experienced NCTE consultant specializiing in 21st Century Literacies to your school to engage your staff in a workshop or presentation today!
NCTE Web Seminars
These virtual events are a convenient and meaningful form of professional development. On Demand Web seminars provide the recorded version of the virtual event and include all audio, video, chat discussion, and actions within the presentation.
National Gallery of Writing
The National Gallery of Writing is available for browsing and contributing writing. The National Gallery houses all kinds of writing from people from all walks of life. Established by NCTE, the National Gallery highlights the remarkable variety of writing we engage in today; provides a collection for research on whether writing today has risen to new highs or sunk to new lows; and helps us help others to write better. Contribute writing or start your own gallery today!
Videos
Abigail Kennedy, 2007 NCTE Media Literacy Award winner, incorporates 21st century literacy skills into her classroom throughout the year. View how Abigail's classroom was a Classroom Spotlight in NCTE's yearlong professional development program, Pathways for 21st Century Literacies.
David Bruce discusses his view of 21st century literacy as both print and non-print are there as complimentary literacies and not competing literacies where students are able to read/write broadly through both rather than one or the other.
William Kist discusses the fact that new technologies have caused a real evolution in the field and is broadening the conception of literacy in the English classroom even though the focus is still on print reading/writing, more things are considered as a literacy endeavor entering the classroom such as music, graphic design and still/motion photography.