Abstract

DEMO, Pedro. Literacies: new media challenges. Ensaio: aval.pol.públ.Educ. [online]. 2007, vol.15, n.57, pp. 543-564. ISSN 0104-4036.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-40362007000400006.

Literacy challenge gained new dimension with the digital world, particularly with new virtual texts. Traditional literacy - reading, writing and to count - becomes simple preamble, since no child doesn't use computer because he/she doesn't know how to read or write. Consequently, this term is used plurally, first to indicate the socio-historical context of literacy (not only technical), and, second to point at new challenges of initiation for life and market. In fact language used at school today is becoming nothing more than a part of the languages needed to organize, construct and reconstruct our social opportunities. Literacy ought to be done, early enough, with the aid of a computer, immediately at the first grade, with the aim to provide this crucial ability for all children. However, computer is a simple tool. It doesn't substitute the teacher. If we want that the computer becomes learning motivation, teacher presence is indispensable, since he has the charge to connect two essential abilities: to know how to do literacy and to know how to cope with the machine, with the objective to construct the best possible literacy environment, specially using virtual simulations.

Keywords : Literacies; Digital divide; Digital opportunities.