Don Carlos Polytechnic College

Don Carlos, Bukidnon

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Module in Education 10
(Building and Enhancing New Literacies across the Curriculum)

DENNIS C. CABALLES, PhD

Instructor
 Module 1
Topic: Globalization and Multicultural Literacy
Instructor: Dennis C. Caballes, PhD

Multicultural & Global Literacy

What is Multicultural Literacy?

Multicultural Literacy consists of the skills and ability to identify the creators of
knowledge and their interests (Banks, 1996), to uncover the assumptions of knowledge,
to view knowledge from diverse ethnic and cultural perspective, and to use knowledge
to guided action that will create a humane and just world (Boutte, 2008).

Multicultural Literacy then, brings attention to diversity, equity and social justice to foster
cultural awareness by addressing difficult issues like discrimination and oppression
towards other ethnicities (Boutte, 2008). According to Boutte (2008) education for
multicultural literacy should help students to develop the 21st century skills and attitudes
that are needed to become active citizens who will work towards achieving social justice
within our communities. Because of the growing racial, language and ethnic diversity in
our country, Multicultural Literacy needs to be transformed in substantial ways to
prepare students to function effectively in the 21st Century (Boutte, 2008).
By making small changes within the classrooms, it can create big changes globally
(Boutte, 2008). As diversity grows, there is a need for the emergence of multicultural
education that is more representative of the students in today’s classrooms. By teaching
students to be advocates for multiculturalism, we are also sending a message of
empathy and tolerance in schools as a need to develop deeper understanding of others
and appreciation of different cultures (Banks, 2003). With this being said, in order for
students to develop these attitudes and skills, it requires basic knowledge prior to
teaching students how to question assumptions about cultural knowledge and how to
critique and critically think about these important cultural issues, which is what
essentially makes Multicultural Literacy a 21st Century Literacy (Banks, 2003).
What is Global Literacy?
Global Literacy aims to address issues of globalization, racism, diversity and social
justice (Guo, 2014). It requires awareness and action, consistent with a broad
understanding of humanity, the planet, and the impact of human decision on both.
Global Literacy also aims to empower students with knowledge and take action to make
a positive impact in the world and their local community (Guo, 2014).

According to the Ontario Ministry of Education (2015) A global citizen should display
most or all of the following characteristics:

  Respect for humans no matter their race, gender, religion or political

perspectives.
  Respect for diversity and various perspectives.
  Promoting sustainable patterns of living, consumption, and production.
  Appreciate the natural world and demonstrate respectful towards the rights of
all living things.
How are Multicultural and Global Literacy Interconnected?
Every classroom contains students of different race, religion, and cultural groups.
Students embrace diverse behaviors, cultural values, patterns of practice, and
communication. Yet they all share one commonality: their educational
opportunity (Guo, 2014).
Teachers should teach their students that other cultures exist and that these deserve to
be acknowledged and respected. Integrating a variety of cultural context into lessons
and activities, teaches students to view the world from many angles, creates a respect
for diversity and enables students to learn exciting information. As classrooms become
increasingly more diverse, it is important for educators to acknowledge an address
diversity issues and to integrate multiculturalism information into the classroom
curriculum (Guo, 2014).

Activity 1.

1. Conduct an interview of two groups with different tribe or ethnicity. Ask about their
culture and the importance of education to them.
2. Interview a teacher on how they deal with the multicultural students.
3. Make a narrative report of the activity.
 Module 2
Topic: Social Literacy
Instructor: Dennis C. Caballes, PhD

What is Social Literacy and why is it important?

Social Literacy is a students successful performance and understanding of social Skills,
organizational skills, and communication skills. It is the students ability to connect
effectively with those around them. Social literacy spans across interacting with peers,
family, coworkers, teachers, and even people we may not have met face to face.

Social literacy is so crucial in a persons success. The ability to communicate and

voice opinions and thoughts, as well as listening to opinions and thoughts of others, is
essential in learning. Firmly grasping social cues and norms is extremely beneficial. In
literally every single setting of our lives, school, home, work, clubs and activities,
interacting with people(whether face to face or behind technology), we use our social
literacy. We play so many roles everyday and we socially need to understand how to
play those roles appropriately. For example: I would speak differently with my friends
than I would my mother, or I would chat on facebook differently than I would while
emailing a professor. Without an understanding of this communication, one cannot
function with success in society.

On the same manner, social literacy, from the perspective of the social-cultural
theory, is more than the ability to read and write, and more than mastering literacy skills.
Children can learn literacy through social interaction between themselves and children
and/or adults in or outside school. Adults can use books, games, toys,
conversations, field trips, and stories to develop the literacy practices through fun.
Collaborative learning between schools, family, and community can help develop a
child's literacy. In addition, given today's technical knowledge, adults can take into
consideration how to use technology in the learning process and to employ it in teaching
children how to read and write in a social context.
"Literacy practices and events are always situated in social, cultural, historical and
political relationships and embedded in structures of power. Furthermore, literacy
practices involve social regulation of text, i.e. who has access to it and who can produce
it, and such practices are purposeful and embedded in broader social goals and cultural
practices. Moreover, these practices change and new ones are frequently acquired
through processes of informal learning and sense-making" (p. 23).[1] For those
reasons, teachers can design multiple levels of literacy activities and practices to fit
different students' abilities and way of learning and "provide a pedagogical approach
which fosters communities of learners, plan classroom activities that embed meaningful
opportunities to engage in the analysis and construction of multimodal texts, and utilize
teaching approaches that move beyond the false tension between abstracting the codes
of language and learning their application for meaningful purposes"
Below are some examples of social literacy in a classroom. As you look at these images,
think about how many social interactions are occurring and what students are learning
about from being exposed to these social situations.

Activity:

1. Write a situation at home where social literacy are evident.

2. In your experience as a learner, discuss the pros and cons of collaboration with
peers/friends/classmates.
3. How do you handle conflict of ideas in the class or in a group?
 Module 3
Topic: Media Literacy
Instructor: Dennis C. Caballes, PhD

What is media literacy?

The word "literacy" usually describes the ability to read and write. Reading
literacy and media literacy have a lot in common. Reading starts with recognizing letters.
Pretty soon, readers can identify words -- and, most importantly, understand what those
words mean. Readers then become writers. With more experience, readers and writers
develop strong literacy skills.

Media literacy is the ability to identify different types of media and understand the
messages they're sending. Kids take in a huge amount of information from a wide array
of sources, far beyond the traditional media (TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines) of
most parents' youth. There are text messages, memes, viral videos, social media, video
games, advertising, and more. But all media shares one thing: Someone created it. And
it was created for a reason. Understanding that reason is the basis of media literacy.

The digital age has made it easy for anyone to create media. We don't always know
who created something, why they made it, and whether it's credible. This makes media
literacy tricky to learn and teach. Nonetheless, media literacy is an essential skill in the
digital age.

Specifically, it helps kids:

 Learn to think critically. As kids evaluate media, they decide whether the messages
make sense, why certain information was included, what wasn't included, and what the
key ideas are. They learn to use examples to support their opinions. Then they can
make up their own minds about the information based on knowledge they already have.

 Become a smart consumer of products and information. Media literacy helps kids
learn how to determine whether something is credible. It also helps them determine the
"persuasive intent" of advertising and resist the techniques marketers use to sell
products.

 Recognize point of view. Every creator has a perspective. Identifying an author's point
of view helps kids appreciate different perspectives. It also helps put information in the
context of what they already know -- or think they know.

 Create media responsibly. Recognizing your own point of view, saying what you want
to say how you want to say it, and understanding that your messages have an impact is
key to effective communication.
 Identify the role of media in our culture. From celebrity gossip to magazine covers to
memes, media is telling us something, shaping our understanding of the world, and
even compelling us to act or think in certain ways.

 Understand the author's goal. What does the author want you to take away from a
piece of media? Is it purely informative, is it trying to change your mind, or is it
introducing you to new ideas you've never heard of? When kids understand what type of
influence something has, they can make informed choices.

 When teaching your kids media literacy, it's not so important for parents to tell kids
whether something is "right." In fact, the process is more of an exchange of ideas. You'll
probably end up learning as much from your kids as they learn from you.

Media literacy includes asking specific questions and backing up your opinions with
examples. Following media-literacy steps allows you to learn for yourself what a given
piece of media is, why it was made, and what you want to think about it.

Teaching kids media literacy as a sit-down lesson is not very effective; it's better
incorporated into everyday activities. For example:

 With little kids, you can discuss things they're familiar with but may not pay much attention to.
Examples include cereal commercials, food wrappers, and toy packages.
 With older kids, you can talk through media they enjoy and interact with. These include such
things as YouTube videos, viral memes from the internet, and ads for video games.

Here are the key questions to ask when teaching kids media literacy:

 Who created this? Was it a company? Was it an individual? (If so, who?) Was it a comedian?
Was it an artist? Was it an anonymous source? Why do you think that?
 Why did they make it? Was it to inform you of something that happened in the world (for
example, a news story)? Was it to change your mind or behavior (an opinion essay or a how-to)?
Was it to make you laugh (a funny meme)? Was it to get you to buy something (an ad)? Why do
you think that?
 Who is the message for? Is it for kids? Grown-ups? Girls? Boys? People who share a
particular interest? Why do you think that?
 What techniques are being used to make this message credible or believable? Does it
have statistics from a reputable source? Does it contain quotes from a subject expert? Does it
have an authoritative-sounding voice-over? Is there direct evidence of the assertions its
making? Why do you think that?
 What details were left out, and why? Is the information balanced with different views -- or
does it present only one side? Do you need more information to fully understand the
message? Why do you think that?
 How did the message make you feel? Do you think others might feel the same way? Would
everyone feel the same, or would certain people disagree with you? Why do you think that?
 As kids become more aware of and exposed to news and current events, you can apply media-
literacy steps to radio, TV, and online information.
Activity:

1. Look for two child with an extreme experience on media. You can have an
elementary grader children, a child who is exposed to any form of media and the other
who is not exposed to media. You conduct an interview to both students with the same
questions. Questions may be taken from their awareness on media, the advantage/s it
provides, and other related questions.

2. Make a comprehensive narrative report of the activity.

 Module 4
Topic: Financial Literacy
Instructor: Dennis C. Caballes, PhD

Financial Literacy
What Is Financial Literacy?
Financial literacy is the ability to understand and effectively use various financial
skills, including personal financial management, budgeting, and investing. The
lack of these skills is called financial illiteracy.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

 Financial literacy refers to a variety of important financial skills and

concepts.
 People who are financially literate are generally less vulnerable to financial
fraud.
 A strong foundation of financial literacy can help support various life goals,
such as saving for education or retirement, using debt responsibly, and
running a business.

Understanding Financial Literacy

In recent decades, financial products and services have become increasingly
widespread throughout society. Whereas earlier generations of Americans may
have purchased goods primarily in cash, today various credit products are
popular, such as credit cards, mortgages, and student loans. Other products,
such as health insurance and self-directed investment accounts, have also grown
in importance. This has made it even more imperative for individuals to
understand how to use them responsibly.

Although there are many skills that might fall under the umbrella of financial
literacy, popular examples include household budgeting, learning how to manage
and pay off debts, and evaluating the tradeoffs between different credit and
investment products. Oftentimes, these skills require at least a working
knowledge of key financial concepts, such as compound interest and the time
value of money. Given the importance of finance in modern society, lacking
financial literacy can be very damaging for an individuals’ long-term financial
success. Unfortunately, research has shown that financial illiteracy is very
common, with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) estimating
that some 66% of Americans lack financial literacy.1

The lack of financial literacy can lead to a number of pitfalls. Financially illiterate
individuals may be more likely to accumulate unsustainable debt burdens, for
example, either through poor spending decisions or through a lack of long-term
preparation. This in turn can lead to poor credit, bankruptcy, housing foreclosure,
or other negative consequences. Thankfully, there are now more resources than
ever for those wishing to educate themselves about the world of finance. One
such example is the government-sponsored Financial Literacy and Education
Commission, which offers a range of free learning resources.2

Financial literacy can also help protect individuals from becoming victims of
financial fraud, which is a type of crime that is, unfortunately, becoming more
commonplace.

Strategies to Improve Your Financial Literacy Skills

Developing financial literacy to improve your personal finances involves learning
and practicing a variety of skills related to budgeting, managing and paying off
debts, and understanding credit and investment products. Here are several
practical strategies to consider:

 Create a budget—Track how much money you receive each month against
how much you spend in an excel sheet, on paper, or in a budgeting app.
Your budget should include income (e.g., paychecks, investments,
alimony), fixed expenses (like rent/mortgage payments, utilities, loan
payments), discretionary spending (non-essentials such as eating out,
shopping, travel), and savings.
 Pay yourself first—To build savings, this "reverse budgeting"
strategy involves choosing a savings goal—say, a down payment for a
home—deciding how much you want to contribute toward it each month,
and setting that amount aside before you divvy up the rest of your
expenses.
 Manage your bill-paying—Stay on top of monthly bills so that payments
consistently arrive on time. Consider taking advantage of automatic debits
from a checking account or bill-pay apps, and sign up for email, phone, or
mail payment reminders.
 Get your credit report—Once a year, consumers can request a free credit
report from the three major credit bureaus—Experian, Equifax, and
TransUnion. Review it and dispute any errors by informing the credit
bureau of inaccuracies.
  Check your credit score—Having a good credit score helps you obtain the
best interest rates on loans and credit cards, among other benefits.
Monitor your score via a free credit monitoring service (or, if you can afford
to and want to add an extra layer of protection on your information, one of
the best credit monitoring services) and be aware of the financial decisions
that can raise or lower your score, such as credit inquiries and utilization
rates.
 Manage debt—Use your budget to stay on top of debt by reducing
spending and increasing repayment. Develop a debt-reduction plan, such
as paying down the loan with highest interest rate first. If your debt is
excessive, contact lenders to renegotiate repayment, consolidate loans, or
find a debt-counseling program.
 Invest in your future—If your employer offers a 401(k) retirement savings
account, be sure to sign up and contribute the maximum to receive
the employer match. Consider opening an IRA and creating a
diversified investment portfolio of stocks, fixed income, and commodities. If
necessary, seek financial advice from professional advisors to help you
determine how much money you will need to retire comfortably and to
develop strategies to reach your goal.

Example of Financial Literacy

Emma is a high school teacher who tries to teach her students about financial
literacy. Through her curriculum, she attempts to educate them on the basics of a
variety of financial topics, such as personal budgeting, debt management,
education and retirement saving, insurance, investing, and even tax planning.

Emma reasons that although these subjects may not be especially relevant to
her students during their high school years, they will nonetheless prove valuable
throughout the rest of their lives. Understanding concepts such as interest
rates, opportunity costs, debt management, compound interest, and budgeting,
for example, could help her students manage the student loans that they might
rely on to fund their college education and keep them from amassing dangerous
levels of debt and endangering their credit scores. Similarly, she expects that
certain topics, such as income taxes and retirement planning, will eventually
prove useful to all students, no matter what they end up doing after high school.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is Financial Literacy Important?
The lack of financial literacy can lead to a number of pitfalls. Financially illiterate
individuals may be more likely to accumulate unsustainable debt burdens, for
example, either through poor spending decisions or through a lack of long-term
preparation. This in turn can lead to poor credit, bankruptcy, housing foreclosure,
or other negative consequences.

How to Become Financially Literate?

To become financial literate involves learning and practicing a variety of skills
related to budgeting, managing and paying off debts, and understanding credit
and investment products. Basic steps to improve your personal finances include
creating a budget, keeping track of expenses, being diligent about timely
payments, being prudent about saving money, periodically checking your credit
report, and investing for your future.

What Are the Popular Personal Budget Rules?

Two commonly used personal budgeting methods are the 50/30/20 and 70/20/10
rules and its their simplicity is what makes them popular. The former entails
dividing your after-tax, take-home income pay into three areas namely needs,
wants, and investments and/or payments to reduce your debt load. The 70/20/10
rule also follows a similar blueprint. It recommends that your after-tax, take-home
income be divided into segments that cater to expenses, savings or reducing
debt, and investments

Activity:

1. Make a reflection by following the format,

I learned that…………… (first paragraph)

I realized that ……….. (second paragraph)

From now on……… (Third paragraph)

2. Ask your parents how importance financial literacy to them.

3. How important is financial literacy for a teacher?