I'm expanding the definition of illiteracy.

I’m expanding the definition of illiteracy.

We use the literacy rate of countries or cities as a short-hand for how developed they are. In other words, we consider the ability to read and write as a kind of bare minimum for participation in the present; anyone who doesn’t have that qualification is arguably trapped in the past.

With that said, literacy in reference to reading and writing is not the only kind of literacy that’s becoming a bare minimum. Wired made this argument recently in regard to statistical literacy: far too many people can’t look at a stat and critically think about what it means, and how the collection method or criteria impact that meaning.

Some other literacies I’m proposing we start considering key performance indicators for our society.

Media Literacy: can you judge the validity of a source of information? Can you tell when facts are being manipulated? Can you analyze the information being provided to you, and make valuable conclusions?

Digital Media Literacy: do you know how to use tools available for search? For publishing? For communication? Can you control and customize your experiences online? Can you make use of and/or modify standard technology and services? Do you know what level of control and management is possible in your various online accounts and/or identities?

If I was being fair, I’d probably throw ‘Code Literacy’ in there as well, but given my skill set, I don’t feel qualified to define what the line is there. I can get google analytics or disqus working on a blog (the current theme on AI had them integrated automatically, though) but I wouldn’t consider myself code literate. This is actually one of my biggest issues with my skill set, and reflects what I consider a hole in the education system.

We’re entering a new phase of human culture, and the shift is as big as the printing press making literacy a key requirement in participating in humanity’s advancement.

We need some new bare minimums. What are yours?