Pupils will be taught about blogging and podcasts as part of a new literacy drive by the Scottish Government. 

Ministers want teachers to pay attention to basics like spelling, comprehension and punctuation under the new Curriculum for Excellence. 

However, Schools Minister Maureen Watt said pupils would also be asked to look at how they communicate online. 

She said they would be failing pupils if they ignored new developments like blogging and social networking sites. 

“Communication in the modern workplace is essential. Employers expect and are demanding core literacy skills from school leavers,” she said.

‘More relevant’ 

“Young people are immersed in technology and the tools that help them create websites, blogs, videos and podcasts also allow them to be authors and publishers. 

“They can reach a worldwide audience, so we have to teach them to do this well. We would be failing them if we just stand by and ignore these developments.” 

Youngsters will also be taught when the use of text-speak is acceptable. 

The new guidance forms part of English literacy “draft outcomes” which are published as part of the government’s plans to introduce a more “holistic” approach to education for children aged three to 18.