Exploring Literacy Education Strategies with Scholars from the U.S. and Taiwan

[Financial News] The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 17th that it will hold the 2026 Seoul International Education Forum on the 19th to explore directions for literacy education in response to changes in technology and the social environment.
The forum's theme is "Literacy: Reading the World and Connecting Ideas." It will examine how schools can teach students to critically understand information and communicate with others in a complex society, moving beyond the basic ability to read and write.
Geun-sik Chung, superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, emphasized, "In an era of rapid change, literacy is the ability to understand and evaluate complex information in society while achieving coexistence with diverse members of the community." He added, "We will support the active implementation of literacy education in schools."
The forum's morning program will feature keynote speeches and a special roundtable with leading education scholars from South Korea and abroad. Okhee Lee, a professor at New York University (NYU), will present basic concepts and approaches to integrating literacy instruction across subjects under the theme "Foundational Literacy and the Evolution of Literacy." Chin-Cheng Tsai, a professor at National Taiwan Normal University, will introduce research on the characteristics of information searches using artificial intelligence (AI) and methods for measuring AI literacy in a presentation titled "From ICT Literacy to AI Literacy: Barriers to Technology-Enhanced Instruction."
In the afternoon, three thematic sessions will be held based on research by teachers working in schools. Session 1 will address literacy as a foundational skill, including support measures for students in the lower grades of elementary school. Session 2 will cover ways to apply AI and digital literacy education in classrooms, including science inquiry lessons. Session 3 will discuss proposals for coexistence literacy and civic awareness, focusing on multiculturalism and international co-teaching.
The concluding panel discussion is expected to propose policy directions for Seoul education and practical strategies for schools based on the key issues raised in the keynote speeches and session presentations.
The event, co-hosted by the Education Policy Research Institute of the Seoul Education Research & Information Institute and Yonsei University, will take place from 9 a.m. on the 19th at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Training Institute. Yang Yong-hi, director of the Seoul Education Research & Information Institute, which is organizing the forum, said, "This forum will reaffirm that literacy education develops core competencies for future talent." She added, "It will be a meaningful opportunity to share schools' concerns and practical experiences based on teachers' field research." 

[email protected] Kim Man-gi Reporter