Developing critical literacy: An urgent goal

Abstract

Due to the recent changes in higher education, including a major shift to online learning and the reform of education, critical literacy skills of today’s generation of college students face the peril of an increasing decline. All students, developmental and non-developmental in online and face-to-face environments, need the well-organized, systemic effort of college educators to enhance students’ critical literacy, including critical thinking, reading, writing, and research skills taught in an integrated manner. To promote postsecondary critical literacy, the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network and centers for teaching and learning (CTLs) can expand collaborations with existing “writing across the curriculum and in disciplines” units by incorporating a “reading across the curriculum and in disciplines” component. They can also support undergraduate and graduate curriculum rooted in this integrated concept. CTLs and the POD Network can advance collaborative pedagogical and research projects focused on integrated critical thinking, reading, writing, and research skills. Such projects would involve writing and reading faculty, instructors in various disciplinary areas, librarians, and external partners.