This course opens with an exploration of the social context and aims of literacy teaching and learning. It goes on to describe a range of historical and contemporary approaches to literacy pedagogy, including didactic, authentic, functional, and critical approaches. The course takes has a 'Multiliteracies' perspective, which aims to expand the definition of literacy to encompass today's multimodal communications, and the diversity of literacies across different social and culltural contexts. A Multiliteracies approach also suggests a broad range of activity types—experiential, conceptual, analytical and critical.
--------------------------------
Recommended Background
--------------------------------
This course is designed for people interested in literacy teaching and learning, including people who may wish to join education as a profession, practicing teachers interested in exploring future directions for a vocation that is currently undergoing transformation, and community and workplace leaders who regard their mission to be in part "educative."
--------------------------------
Related Resources
--------------------------------
Online resources are available here:
https://newlearningonline.com
Book:
https://www.amazon.com/Literacies-Mary-Kalantzis/dp/1107578698/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1661288799&refinements=p_27%3ABill+Cope&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Bill+Cope
--------------------------------
Join our Online Communities!
--------------------------------
CGScholar (Create an account and join the New Learning community)
https://cgscholar.com/community/community_profiles/new-learning/community_updates
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/newlearningonline
Twitter
https://twitter.com/neolearning
--------------------------------
Take this Course for Credit at the University of Illinois
--------------------------------
This course has the same content and anticipates the same level of contribution by students in the Assessment for Learning course offered to graduate certificate, masters, and doctoral level students in the Learning Design and Leadership Program in the College of Education at the University of Illinois.
Of course, in the nature of MOOCs many people will just want to view the videos and casually join some of the discussions. Some people say that these limited kinds of participation offer evidence that MOOCs suffer from low retention rates. Far from it – we say that any level of engagement is good engagement.
On the other hand, if you would like to take this course for credit at the University of Illinois, you will find more information about our program here:
https://ldlprogram.web.illinois.edu/overview/
And you can apply here:
https://education.illinois.edu/epol/programs-degrees/ldl
--------------------------------
The Learning Design and Leadership Series of MOOCs
--------------------------------
This course is one of a series of eight MOOCs created by Bill Cope and Mary Kalantzis for the Learning Design and Leadership program at the University of Illinois. If you find this MOOC helpful, please join us in others!
e-Learning Ecologies: Innovative Approaches to Teaching and Learning for the Digital Age
https://www.coursera.org/learn/elearning
New Learning: Principles and Patterns of Pedagogy
https://www.coursera.org/learn/newlearning
Assessment for Learning
https://www.coursera.org/learn/assessmentforlearning
Learning, Knowledge, and Human Development
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learning-knowledge-human-development
Ubiquitous Learning and Instructional Technologies
https://www.coursera.org/learn/ubiquitouslearning
Negotiating Learner Differences: Towards Productive Diversity in Learning
https://www.coursera.org/learn/learnerdifferences
Literacy Teaching and Learning: Aims, Approaches and Pedagogies
https://www.coursera.org/learn/literacy-teaching-learning
Multimodal Literacies: Communication and Learning in the Era of Digital Media
https://www.coursera.org/learn/multimodal-literacies
This module explores the notion of "literacies" in the plural, and in particular the concept of "Multiliteracies" coined by the presenters in this course as part of the New London Group. Literacy in the singular consists of the rigid rules of official standard languages, and is purely grounded in written text. Literacies in the plural, or multiliteracies, acknowledges that language use will vary greatly from one cultural and social context to another, and that contemporary communication is increasingly multimodal, where written text is juxtaposed with, or supplemented by, image, sound, space, object, gesture, and speech. The module goes on to explore the evolution of human communication, and the patterns of communication in today's work, public, and community settings.
1.1 Introduction to the Concept of Literacies•4 minutes
1.2 First Languages•6 minutes
1.3 Starting to Write•7 minutes
1.4 Digital Literacies•9 minutes
2.1 Why Literacy?•4 minutes
2.2 Literacies for Work•8 minutes
2.3 Literacies for Citizenship•6 minutes
2.4 Literacies for Everyday Life•7 minutes
15 readings•Total 150 minutes
Syllabus•10 minutes
Task Overview: How to Pass This Course•10 minutes
About the Discussion Forums•10 minutes
Take this Course as a Stepping Stone for a University of Illinois Certificate, Masters, or Doctorate - Fully Online!•10 minutes
Course Readings•10 minutes
Updating Your Profile•10 minutes
Social Media•10 minutes
'Multiliteracies': New Literacies, New Learning (Journal Article)•10 minutes
First Languages•10 minutes
On Globalization and Diversity (Journal Article)•10 minutes
The Coming of Writing•10 minutes
The Impact of New Media on Literacies•10 minutes
Literacies for Work•10 minutes
Literacies for Citizenship•10 minutes
Literacy for Contemporary Community Life•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Orientation Quiz•30 minutes
2 peer reviews•Total 120 minutes
Essential Peer Reviewed Update #2•60 minutes
Optional Peer Reviewed Update #1•60 minutes
3 discussion prompts•Total 30 minutes
Getting to Know Your Classmates•10 minutes
Discussion Forum: Optional Update #1•10 minutes
Discussion Forum: Essential Update #2•10 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
New Plugin Item•15 minutes
Theory and Practice of Literacies Learning and Teaching
2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we discuss the nature of pedagogy as the conscious design of learning activities. We introduce the idea of "knowledge processes" or activity types: experiential, conceptual, critical, and applied. In the case of literacies learning, experiential knowledge processes involve immersion in familiar and new texts. Conceptual knowledge processes include naming of the features of text, and developing theories of how these texts work to serve meaningful purposes. Analytical knowledge processes explore the contexts and purposes of texts. Applied knowledge processes engage learners in the creation of texts.
3.2 Activity Types in Literacies Pedagogy•6 minutes
3.3 Experiential and Conceptual Learning•7 minutes
3.4 Analytical and Applied Learning•7 minutes
3.5 Major Approaches to Literacy Teaching and Learning•7 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
Literacies Pedagogy in Action•10 minutes
Literacies Pedagogy in Theory•10 minutes
The Things You Do to Know: An Introduction to the Pedagogy of Multiliteracies (Book Chapter)•10 minutes
1 peer review•Total 60 minutes
Essential Peer Reviewed Update #3•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Discussion Forum: Essential Update #3•10 minutes
Didactic + Authentic Approaches to Literacy
4 hours to complete
Module details
This module begins with an overview of the range of activity types that might be found in literacies pedagogy. These are illustrated with some examples of literacies learning modules. It goes on to examine two major models of literacy pedagogy: didactic and authentic.
4.1 Didactic Literacy Pedagogy: An Overview•10 minutes
4.2 The Content Focus of Didactic Literacy Teaching•8 minutes
4.3 The Organization of the Didactic Literacy Curriculum•11 minutes
5.1 Authentic Literacy Pedagogy: An Overview•9 minutes
5.2 The Content Focus of Authentic Literacy Pedagogy•8 minutes
5.3 The Organization of the Authentic Literacy Curriculum•8 minutes
5.4 Critical Views of Authentic Literacy Pedagogy•3 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Didactic Literacy Pedagogy•10 minutes
Authentic Literacy Pedagogy•10 minutes
2 peer reviews•Total 120 minutes
Essential Peer Reviewed Update #5•60 minutes
Optional Peer Reviewed Update #4•60 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
Discussion Forum: Optional Update # 4•10 minutes
Discussion Forum: Essential Update #5•10 minutes
Functional + Critical Approaches to Literacy
4 hours to complete
Module details
Now we explore the remaining two of the four major traditions in literacy teaching and learning: functional and critical approaches to literacy. Our purpose in introducing these four major approaches has been to explore the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, as well as to advocate for the idea that literacy teaching and learning ideally involves a repertoire of different kinds of pedagogical moves or activity types.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Illinois serves the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and finding solutions to critical societal needs.
OK
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
4.6
134 reviews
5 stars
73.13%
4 stars
19.40%
3 stars
2.98%
2 stars
0.74%
1 star
3.73%
Showing 3 of 134
U
UI
5·
Reviewed on May 23, 2020
Excellelent course to learn it opened my mind,filled the empty gaps of my brain with complete and necessary information about education(teaching and learning)
S
S
5·
Reviewed on Sep 13, 2025
I would like to thank coursera app for helping me gain knowledge, even though sometimes there's an technical errors or other issues, it satisfied me and I hope it helps other students.
M
MK
4·
Reviewed on Oct 19, 2022
coursera is one of the best online platform to learn. And between literacy teaching and learninng aims approachs and pedagogies was very much helpfull to me.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
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.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
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.
Is financial aid available?
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.