Griff Linc is the Griffith University “Literacy in Context” research group
Literacy in context refers to the application of language and literacy skills within real-world situations. The Literacy in Context approach underscores the importance of learning in ways that are directly relevant to learners' lives, and offer meaningful, authentic experiences that purposefully draw from the broad set of skills related to language and literacy. Literacy in Context highlights the importance of a balanced approach to learning to read, write, view, create, speak, listen and engage with multimodal texts.
About Griff Linc
Griff Linc Reading Tutors
We train volunteer tutors to provide free online sessions for tweens and teens who are not yet fluent independent readers. Tutors use AI to create short-form high-interest information texts specifically for the student. Students are scaffolded through a six-step reading strategy. Formal reading assessments are provided to track students’ progress. To register as a volunteer tutor, contact Professor Beryl Exley or Dr Frances Hoyte.
Griff Linc for Primary Teachers
Griff Linc for Primary Teachers provides collaboratories between Griffith University Researchers and Partner Researchers in other Universities (e.g. Manchester Metropolitan University) to work with primary school teachers and school leaders on literacy research and teacher professional learning. Contact Professor Parlo Singh.
Griff Linc for Languages Teachers
We provide Digital Badges for Languages teachers to refine their multilingual literacy skills by translating for their local communities. This is an example of why Languages education in school is vital for our multilingual communities and shows how multilingual literacy skills are applied. Language teachers of Chinese and Italian can contact Dr. Danielle Heinrichs Henry.
Griff Linc Dialogic
We provide resources and online workshops to teachers to support their understandings of classroom talk and interaction practices and ways that a dialogic sensibility promotes oral language, meaning making and communication practices among learners. To register your interest in attending a workshop, contact Professor Christine Edwards-Groves.
Griff Linc Critical Literacies
We provide resources, practical frameworks and academic literature for teachers to help make critical literacy accessible and achievable in classrooms with culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Interested teachers can contact Assoc Prof Jennifer Alford.
Griff Linc 2021 Summit
Griff Linc 2021 Quality Teaching of Reading in the Early Years Summit provides pre-readings, the summit communique and TEDx style presentations by Professor Donna Pendergast OM, Dr Cheryl Vardon AO, Professor Beryl Exley, Myra Geddes, Sarah Richardson, Dr Melinda Miller, Associate Professor Dr Misty Adoniou, Dr Paul Gardner, Associate Professor Jessica Mantei, Julie Shepherd, Dr Deb Brosseuk, Emma Gulliford, Wendy Doyle, Adele Amoresen, Kristy Cundell and Janteina Batt.
Leading positive change
Griff Linc’s mission is to transform lives and add to human knowledge in a way that creates engagement, motivation and a future that benefits all. In the field of literacy research, Griffith University has an established reputation for pioneering studies that advance understandings of language, literacy development, multilingualism, and learning and teaching for high-quality foundational and critical outcomes in diverse contexts. Griff Linc researchers collaborate with local, national and international industry partners and key researchers from other world-renowned institutions to ensure their research impacts the development of theory, research methods, educational practices and policies, and people’s life worlds.
Become a Griff Linc Higher Degree Research Student
We invite aspiring researchers to join our Griff Linc Higher Degree Research Education Programs, designed to advance language and literacy research and practice. You will be supervised by experts, engage in cutting-edge studies, and collaborate with world-renowned researchers. Choose between a Masters of Education and Professional Studies (AQF9), Doctor of Education (AQF10), or Doctor of Philosophy (AQF10). We are committed to providing a comprehensive research experience, ensuring you develop the skills needed to make a significant impact in the field of language and literacy research. For more information, review the research profiles below and contact one of the academic team members whose specialisation aligns with your area of interest.
Griff Linc Staff and Collaborators
Online Resources
For Teachers
The following online resources provide research-informed examples of the Literacy in Context approach:
- Compton-Lilly, C., Spence, L., Thomas, P. & Decker, S. (2023). Stories grounded in decades of research: What we truly know about the teaching of reading. The reading teacher, 77, 3, 392-400.
For Researchers
- The Foundation for Learning and Literacy (FFLL) has compiled a set of online resources for researchers.
For Parents and Carers
- The Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA) has developed a series of modules to support parents and carers with activities that can be shared with children. The activities have been designed with an emphasis on learning through collaborative play and shared discovery.
- The Foundation for Learning and Literacy (FFLL) has compiled a set of articles and resources for parents.
- The Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA) has curated a selection of children's literature to help parents and children engage in meaningful conversations about respectful relationships.
