Why Literacy Extends Beyond the Book: Loreto College Turns the Page on Literacy During National Book Week

As schools across Australia celebrate National Book Week (22-28 August), Loreto College Marryatville is highlighting how the meaning of literacy is evolving, with students now needing the skills to navigate not only books and written texts, but an increasingly complex digital world shaped by artificial intelligence, rapid technological change and unprecedented access to information.

The Adelaide all-girl's college believes that while a love of reading and strong literacy foundations remain fundamental to learning, today’s students must also develop the critical thinking, digital awareness and judgement required to evaluate information, use technology responsibly and participate confidently in society.

At Loreto College Marryatville, digital literacy is embedded as an essential capability across the learning experience, helping students become not only capable users of technology, but thoughtful and ethical digital citizens who understand how to use digital tools to enhance learning. ​

Loreto College Principal Ms Kylie McCullah said Book Week provides an opportunity to reflect on how literacy continues to evolve, and on the capabilities young people need to succeed in an increasingly connected world.

“Literacy has always been about more than the ability to read words on a page. It is about understanding, interpreting, questioning and communicating ideas – and those skills are more important than ever in a world where students are constantly engaging with information across different platforms,” Ms McCullah said.

“The role of schools in developing digital literacy has never been more important. Technology is now embedded in almost every aspect of our lives, from how we learn and communicate to how we access information and participate in the world around us.”

“Digital literacy is not simply about knowing how to use a device or navigate a platform. It is about developing the critical thinking skills to evaluate information, understand the opportunities and limitations of technology, make informed decisions, and use digital tools responsibly.”

Ms McCullah said the emergence of artificial intelligence has reinforced the importance of students developing strong foundations in curiosity, judgement and independent thinking.

“Artificial intelligence has changed the conversation around what it means to be digitally literate. Students now have access to tools that can generate information instantly, but the ability to question, analyse and apply that information has become even more important,” she said.

“Our responsibility as educators is to ensure students are not passive consumers of technology. We want them to be confident, ethical and discerning users who understand both the possibilities technology provides, and the responsibility that comes with using it.”

Ms Mel Pedavoli, Assistant Principal: Pedagogy and Academics, said AI was accelerating the need for schools to rethink how students demonstrate learning, moving beyond simply reproducing information towards tasks that value critical thinking, creativity and authentic engagement.

“The rise of artificial intelligence has challenged educators to think differently about how we design learning and assessment. Some traditional assessment tasks that measure knowledge recall or written production can now be completed by AI tools in seconds, which means we need to consider what skills we are truly seeking to develop and assess,” Ms Pedavoli said.

“At Loreto College, we are exploring AI-resilient assessment approaches that place greater emphasis on the learning process, student voice, critical thinking, and the ability to explain and defend ideas.”

“This includes exploring new forms of assessment such as live discussions, presentations, debates, reflective tasks and project-based learning, where students need to demonstrate their thinking, make connections and engage in meaningful conversations. These are the skills that AI cannot replicate in the same way because they rely on human judgement, creativity and collaboration.”

Ms Pedavoli said schools also needed to move away from viewing AI simply as something to control, instead helping students understand how to use it responsibly.

“When AI first became widely available, many schools explored approaches such as traffic light systems – identifying tasks where AI was prohibited, limited or encouraged. While these frameworks helped start important conversations, they are not a long-term solution because technology continues to evolve,” she said.

“The challenge is that AI use is not simply black and white. A student might use AI to generate ideas, explore different perspectives or receive feedback, but the important question is whether they are still actively engaging in the thinking process.”

“Rather than focusing only on policing technology use, we need to focus on developing students’ judgement. The goal is for students to understand when technology can support their learning and when human thinking, creativity and independent analysis are essential.”

Ms Pedavoli said digital literacy also required students to understand that being comfortable with technology does not necessarily mean being digitally capable.

“There is often an assumption that young people are naturally digitally literate because they have grown up surrounded by technology. While students are confident using devices and platforms, digital literacy requires a much deeper understanding,” she said.

“It involves knowing how to organise information, evaluate sources, protect privacy, understand digital footprints and use technology purposefully. These are skills that need to be explicitly taught.”

As Book Week celebrates the power of reading, imagination and storytelling, Loreto College is reinforcing that literacy in the modern world extends beyond the printed page.

“The future will belong to those who can combine technological capability with curiosity, creativity, empathy and strong critical thinking skills,” Ms McCullah said.

“Whether students are engaging with a novel, analysing information online or using emerging technologies, the foundations remain the same – the ability to think deeply, communicate effectively and make meaningful contributions to the world around them.”

-ENDS-

National Book Week Imagery

About Loreto College Marryatville

Loreto College Marryatville is South Australia's leading all-girls day and boarding school, catering for students from Early Learning to Year 12.

Established in 1905, a Loreto education is built on a 400-year-old tradition first inspired by the founder of Loreto schools worldwide, Mary Ward, and encapsulates her belief in delivering an education that inspires strong, passionate and confident girls and young women.

Through a broad range of academic, co-curricular and wellbeing opportunities, Loreto College Marryatville empowers students to become engaged learners and compassionate leaders equipped to make a positive contribution to their communities.

Loreto College Marryatville is led by Principal Ms Kylie McCullah.