Literacy – A cause for concern?

I watched Nicole Kidman give an amazing performance today in Photograph 51 and it made me realise how a missed opportunity can transform how a person is remembered and the impact, as a result, that a person may be able make during their lifetime.

How does this link to my research you may be thinking, well I am very interested in exploring literacy underachievement and arguably you could say that this in itself is a result of several missed opportunities. I am a teacher who used to be a Police Officer (a long story) but I have seen for myself from both professions the impact that poor literacy skills can have on a person’s life. I was surprised to recently find out that currently in the United Kingdom one in six people struggle with literacy and have the literacy skills below the level expected of an 11 year old (Jama and Dugdale, 2012) and that this is a figure that has been unchanged since 2003 (DfBIS, 2012). Perhaps more worrying is that the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) literacy leagues put those surveyed in the UK’s younger generation (16-24) at the same level in literacy assessments as the eldest adults surveyed (55-65) (OECD, 2013). For me it is this level of stagnation within literacy attainment that is an ever present cause for concern, especially for those who work within the field of education.

Within my research study I hope to look at ways and methods of teaching that will help to empower staff to enhance the literacy skills of those we teach. I remember fondly my experiences of English at school and it was these happy times of disappearing with Alice down the rabbit hole that resulted in becoming and English teacher. However, I recognise that for everyone the joy of English and literacy is not the same. We all know ourselves how bad memories seem to hang around far longer than the good ones. Far too often I have heard people recall moments from their schooling which always start with a negative memory. I also know first-hand, from family experience, what a bad experience of literacy can do for a person’s self-confidence and how long lasting those beliefs are. Trying to find a way to eradicate these bad feelings and memories of literacy and school, may to some, be unachievable but it is something I want to try and find some answers to.

I am a cup half-full kind of person. I was told my career, as a Police Officer, was pretty much over at just 27, it was a career that I thought I would stay in for 30 years. Ten operations, lots of metal and a right hand that has significantly reduced movement and is full of arthritis later, it still presents me with daily challenges, but I will not let it define me. Mindset to me is key and this is why I am also looking to build this in to my research as I believe it could be central to equipping learners with the literacy skills and confidence levels they need in order to go on and fulfil their true potential in life.

Tomorrow will be spent with my highlighter and several cups of tea as I prepare to make a dent in my literature review, for all my colleagues I hope that you enjoy the rest of your half-term.

References

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (2012) The 2011 Skills for Life survey: A Survey of Literacy, Numeracy and ICT Levels in England. London: DfBIS.

Jama, D. and Dugdale, G. (2012) Literacy: State of the Nation – A picture of literacy in the UK today. London: National Literacy Trust.

OECD (2013) OECD Skills Outlook2013: First results from the survey of adult skills. OECD Publishing. Available at: http://skills.oecd.org/documents/OECD_Skills_Outlook_2013.pdf (Accessed 18 October 2015).

The need to flexible – Research questions

I submitted my proposal for my dissertation in September and had spent quite a long time working on the title. Like most students who would have been in a similar position, I wanted it to show what I would be investigating and that there was scope for this to be explored further. I dreaded being told that the project was not a feasible one, especially having spent a significant period of the summer holiday reading around the issues.

My initial title was: How could motivational teaching methods coupled with consistent relationships tackle literacy underachievement in KS3?

I have since been completing background reading into research projects, namely Gary Thomas’ “How to Do Your Research Project” and Ranjit Kumar’s “Research Methodology”, both excellent in helping to control my nerves and provide answers to the many questions I had. Having read these tests I now understand that my title which I had agonised over will now change regularly throughout my reading and that that is part and parcel of the research investigation.

In reviewing my question as is suggested, I felt that my question was too wide so I re-drafted it but somehow I seemed to create a bigger project! I think the main message that I have picked up on from both Thomas’ and Kumar’s texts are that the project has to be doable and that you have to remain realistic in what you are looking to achieve.

I will share my latest question with my supervisor tomorrow, currently it stands at:

Can consistent relationships impact staff and student mindsets when tackling literacy underachievement?

Or

Can consistency impact staff and student attitudes towards literacy?

I am not sure how many times I will re-draft this between now and June, but I have realised the importance of doing it. The wording of ‘How’ or ‘Can’ certainly presents a very different matter for you to explore within your project.

If you are a Masters student about to embark on your Dissertation I would really recommend you take a look at Thomas’ and Kumar’s books. Next on my half-term reading list is Peter Clough and Cathy Nutbrown’s ‘A Student guide to methodology’.

References

Kumar, R. (2014), Research Methodology. A Step-By-Step Guide for Beginners. Fourth Edition. London: SAGE Publications Ltd

Thomas, G. (2013), How to Do Your Research Project. Second Edition. London: SAGE Publications Ltd.

My dissertation journey!

I have decided to create a blog as the place of my reflection for my Masters in Education. I hope that my experience will in some way help others who are in the similar position of me – working full time and trying to finish a pathway of further study that I started several years ago.

My aim is to regularly blog about my discoveries on my way (I hope) to 20,000 words and a deadline of June 2016!