Children Acquiring Literacy Naturally

Ends in 4 days! Save 40% on your access to 10,000+ programs and make a real impact in your career. Save now.

Children Acquiring Literacy Naturally

Instructor: Dr. Dominic William Massaro

31,217 already enrolled

Included with Learn more

Ask Coursera

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

192 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

9 hours to complete

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

3 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

192 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

9 hours to complete

Learn at your own pace

98%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

Describe the fundamental processes involved in reading.
Explain the natural acquisition of literacy and its implications for society.
Identify possible technological advances in literacy.

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

There are 3 modules in this course

In this short course you will explore the possibility that children might acquire written language in a way that is similar to how they acquire spoken language—without instruction. You will encounter various aspects of behavioral science and technology that are relevant to this proposition. You will have the opportunity to learn the the perceptual, cognitive, and neurological capacities of children during their first years of life. You will advance your understanding of children and how they learn language. You will also be more attuned to current advances in the technology of human machine interactions, and what these phenomena imply for learning to read at an early age.

Universal literacy, differences between spoken and written language, models of perception and processing, and implications of natural acquisition of reading.

What's included

12 videos1 reading4 discussion prompts

12 videosTotal 91 minutes

Welcome7 minutes
Challenges and Possibilities9 minutes
Overview of Language8 minutes
Spoken vs. Written Language10 minutes
Analogous Processes in Speech Perception and Reading8 minutes
Is Speech Perception Special?7 minutes
Critique of Motor Theory8 minutes
Fuzzy Logical Model of Perception8 minutes
Top-Down Influences on Language Processing8 minutes
Neural and Behavioral Development6 minutes
Visual Word Form Area and Critical Periods6 minutes
Implications for Learning to Read Naturally6 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Week 1 Overview10 minutes

4 discussion promptsTotal 40 minutes

Belief and Truth10 minutes
Communication Difficulties10 minutes
Conversation with a Child10 minutes
Questions for your instructor10 minutes

Influences on language learning, iconicity, recognition skills of infants, visual processes in reading, and rapid serial visual processing.

What's included

14 videos2 readings4 discussion prompts

14 videosTotal 88 minutes

Acquiring Language6 minutes
Learning Words6 minutes
Multiple Sources of Information Perspective part 17 minutes
Multiple Sources of Information Perspective part 25 minutes
Iconicity5 minutes
Recognition Skills of Infants10 minutes
Acquiring Early Reading Skill6 minutes
Visual Processes that Support Reading8 minutes
Uppercase and Lowercase Letters5 minutes
Fundamental Processes Involved in Reading5 minutes
Tunnel Vision in Reading5 minutes
Eye Movements During Reading7 minutes
Rapid Serial Visual Processing (RSVP)6 minutes
Optimizing RSVP7 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Week 2 Overview10 minutes
Iconicity Ratings10 minutes

4 discussion promptsTotal 40 minutes

Iconicity Sample10 minutes
Adapting Speed-Reading for Children10 minutes
Reading with RSVP10 minutes
Course Project Proposal10 minutes

The nature of reading, reading myths, current approaches to teaching reading, demographics of literacy and illiteracy, and technological innovations.

What's included

15 videos1 reading1 peer review3 discussion prompts

15 videosTotal 98 minutes

Measuring Reading Skill6 minutes
How We Perceive Letters and Words9 minutes
Reading Words5 minutes
Search for Magical Solutions7 minutes
Testing Top-Down Influences7 minutes
Written vs. Spoken Language6 minutes
Traditional View of Learning to Read7 minutes
Views of Reading7 minutes
Learning Written Language4 minutes
Writing and Reading6 minutes
Print Influences in Early Reading6 minutes
Technological Advances4 minutes
Shared Reading Interventions7 minutes
Possible Implementations7 minutes
Potential Impacts of Technology Assisted Reading Acquisition8 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Week 3 Overview10 minutes

1 peer reviewTotal 120 minutes

Evaluation Report120 minutes

3 discussion promptsTotal 30 minutes

Augmented or Virtual Reality and Reading10 minutes
Technology-Enhanced Environment10 minutes
Picking up Written Language10 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(50 ratings)

Dr. Dominic William Massaro

University of California, Santa Cruz

1 Course31,222 learners

Offered by

University of California, Santa Cruz

Explore more from Psychology

Status: Free Trial
Tsinghua University
Just Reading and Writing English 1
Course
Status: Preview
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Multimodal Literacies: Communication and Learning in the Era of Digital Media
Course
Status: Preview
Commonwealth Education Trust
Writing for Young Readers: Opening the Treasure Chest
Course
Status: Preview
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Introduction to AI-Supported Language Learning
Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
72.39%
4 stars
13.54%
3 stars
9.37%
2 stars
2.08%
1 star
2.60%

Showing 3 of 192

Reviewed on May 22, 2020

This course has helped me to understand different techniques to teach children and help them to acquire skills naturally.

Reviewed on Jun 17, 2018

It was a very interesting course that opened up my mind regarding early literacy in children. This new perspective could be a great start for further research on the topic.

Reviewed on Jun 8, 2020

It was hard for me to follow the instructor. He spoke in monotone and broke paused in odd places .

View more reviews

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.