Hull, G. & Schultz, K. "Literacy and Learning Out of School"

Subtitle: A review of theory and research. 2001

This is a sweeping review of three major theories and their histories: ethnography of communication (Dell Hymes, 1964--second time that's come up), Vygotsky and activity theory (second for that one too, but each time it seems different), and New Literacy Studies, frontiered by Gee and Street. I'm really drawn to NLS. I think that's the tradition I'm naturally inclined toward. It ties in the ideas of literacy as social activity, as an idealogical practice--never just a neutral set of skills (Street), and draws on the issues of power relations in terms of who benefits from their primary Discourse, what hierarchies are set in place that are perpetuated by language.

"Hymes's conception of the ethnography of communication gave researchers and educators a framework for noticing the resources that students bring to school and provided teachers with a way to imagine changing their pedagogy and curriculum instead of assuming that only students needed to change." (p.581)

NLS lines (p. 585): "NLS is noteworthy for its emphasis on studying literacy in out-of-school contexts. "NlS also often makes central an analysis of the interplay between the meanings of local events and a structural analysis of broader cultural and political institutions and practices."
NLS "investigate(s) literacy and discourse and [places] a special emphasi on revealing, understanding, and addressing power relations." On Street: "schooling and pedagogy constrain our conceptions of literacy practices. Street defines literacy as an ideological practice rather than a set of neutral or technical skills."

Cushman: "activist methodology."

A ton of valuable references in this article. After the history, they go into four newer case studies. I needed to stop reading before the end because I was starting to skim wickid bad, so I'll continue this after I finish the article in the morning. I'm curious to see what Hull and Schultz go on to ask of future research; maybe I can use something from that section as a springboard.

New London School brought up here. Szwed too.