Academic literacy practices on Facebook

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze academic and digital literacies practices developed by paticipants of a Language and Technology developmental program. We adopt a social and academic literacies approach (LEA; STREET, 1998; LILLIS; SCOTT, 2007) to examine what texts participants write in disciplines that use Facebook as a learning platform. The reported study is of a qualitative and interpretive nature. The events herein analyzed integrate the data bank of a research project that involved participant observation developed throughout the years of 2012 and 2013 in a Brazilian profes sional graduate program. The analysis makes visible that literacy practices developed by participants are oriented by the "skills model" (Lea & Street, 1998), which leads to the "institutional practice of mystery" (LILLIS; SCOTT, 2007). In this context, it is interesting to note that teachers' writings can be characterized as a hybrid of scholastic genres and Facebook genres.

Keywords:
Academic Literacy; Digital Literacies; Writing Practices; Continuing Education