Donna Alvermann - A Critical Untangling of Adolescents’ Literacy Practices and Popular Culture

This webinar was presented live on March 6, 2016 for Global Conversations in Literacy Research 2015-2016 Series (http://globalconversationsinliteracy....) APA Citation: Alvermann, D. (2016, March 6). A Critical Untangling of Adolescents’ Literacy Practices and Popular Culture [Webinar]. In Global Conversations in Literacy Research Web Seminar Series. Retrieved from    • Donna Alvermann - A Critical Untangling of...   Dr. Alvermann is the University of Georgia Appointed Distinguished Research Professor of Language and Literacy Education. She also holds an endowed chair position: The Omer Clyde and Elizabeth Parr Aderhold Professor in Education. Formerly a classroom teacher in Texas and New York, her research focuses on young people’s digital literacies and use of popular media. Dr. Alvermann’s seminar will address how popular culture is not a discourse distinct from other discourses, including adolescents’ literacy practices. Much as some accounts would have us believe that the two are unique and divide roughly along informal and formal learning, Dr. Alvermann’s research over the past twenty years or so would suggest just the opposite. In this webinar, Dr. Alvermann will critically reframe key findings from several of her earlier research projects involving adolescents’ literacy practices and popular culture for the express purpose of inviting a discussion focused on the uncertainties and complexities that went unnoticed (or at least unremarked) the first time around. Dr. Alvermann focuses her research middle-grades through highReconceptualizing Literacies school students’ comprehension and production in digital environments (including social media). One of her particular interests is in understanding how online learning tools, such as “PersuadeMe” mediate young people’s motivation and engagement in both informational and literary texts. Further, the intersections of informal learning and pop culture figure prominently in Dr. Alvermann’s professional life. She has been invited by the organizers of the 2016 SxSW festival in Austin, Texas to be a member of the mentor panel. Her speciality is: “Developing critical awareness of the need for connected learning opportunities that unite popular culture and literacy instruction, including personalized action plans for following through on that awareness. Author of numerous articles, Dr. Alvermann has several books to her credit: Reconceptualizing the Literacies in Adolescents’ Lives (3rd ed.); Adolescents’ Online Literacies: Connecting Classrooms, Digital Media, and Popular Culture; Content Area Reading and Literacy; and Bring It to Class: Unpacking Pop Culture in Literacy Learning. Among the many awards Dr. Alvermann has received are election into the Reading Hall of Fame, Computers in Research Award (ILA), Oscar Causey Award for Outstanding Contributions to Reading Research. Dr. Alvermann has recently helped to design an interactive website to learn how a community of researchers and researched objects can push boundaries associated with creating and disseminating “original” work and remixes online using a Creative Commons license (http://www.becoming3lectric.com). Please access Dr. Alvermann’s website at https://coe.uga.edu/directory/profile...