We are excited to have Jean-Francois Rouet present on "Literacy in 2030". 

Jean-François Rouet, an internationally respected literacy researcher visiting NIU as a Fulbright Scholar. He will discuss challenges and new avenues for preparing students for new literacy demands.

Abstract:  Children who learn how to read in 2019 will reach civil majority in 2030. They are set to live in a world of abundant but also chaotic information. The information chaos brings new challenges to modern readers and to their educators. In addition to an ability to decipher and comprehend written texts, proficient Internet users need to master effective strategies to navigate, select, evaluate (repell) and integrate information from multiple sources. The complexity and sophistication of effective online reading call for a new definition of literacy and new approaches to literacy instruction. In this presentation I contrast some existing definitions of literacy. I stress some key drivers of change and the challenges they pose to children and teenagers. I propose a framework and some avenues for the teaching of literacy skills at all levels of the curriculum.