UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Exploring Out-of-School Identity Construction and Multiliteracy Practices of Two Teenagers: A European Case Study

Rodriguez, Julia; (2018) Exploring Out-of-School Identity Construction and Multiliteracy Practices of Two Teenagers: A European Case Study. Doctoral thesis (Ed.D), UCL (University College London). Green open access

[thumbnail of E-Thesis  Final.pdf]
Preview
Text
E-Thesis Final.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (17MB) | Preview

Abstract

Teenagers' online activities can reveal rich and varied literacy behaviours. While these teenagers may experience cultural and linguistic diversity out of school, and construct identity digitally using their literacy skills in a highly productive and engaged fashion, they may struggle to express their literacies and identities in school settings. When viewed through a New Literacies (Gee, 2000; Street, 1995) and Multiliteracies (Cope & Kalantzis, 2000) perspective, closer analysis of the predispositions, social attitudes, and activities of these teenagers reveal significant educational advantages that may go largely undetected by educators in the classroom. This thesis presents two ethnographic case studies, involving two teenagers, who actively sought out and engaged in online spaces where they could establish identities, practice multimodal literacies, and seek out affinity groups in keeping with their personal interests and abilities. Findings reveal that out-of-school literacy practices are sophisticated, multimodal, meaningful, real and important for identity construction in teenagers. Identities online and offline melt in a way that differentiation is non-existent for them, also literacy and identity practices seem not to be bound in this study to the physical place in which they occur, but to the actual opportunities to develop and implement these practices. They are not linked either to generational gaps or digital native divides. This research is of significance to educators as it demonstrates the manner in which digital technologies used by teenagers in out-of-school settings can inform multiliteracy practices in the classroom through the recognition of the role they already play in teenagers' literacy and identity construction.

Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Qualification: Ed.D
Title: Exploring Out-of-School Identity Construction and Multiliteracy Practices of Two Teenagers: A European Case Study
Event: UCL
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Language: English
Keywords: Multiliteracies, Multimodality, Digital Identity Construction, Out-of-School Practices.
UCL classification: UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Education > UCL Institute of Education > IOE - Culture, Communication and Media
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10049237
Downloads since deposit
362Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item