Blog Post 3- Module 2- How New Literacies Are Relevant To Us
I decided to choose “Improving Digital Literacy for Practices” and “Digital Literacy” as the two articles I looked at. As I reflected on the two readings I noticed a lot of similarities between the two. One common trend that I was noticing was the admiration of digital literacy from the younger generations. Both articles discussed that they acknowledged that the younger generations use social media and their electronic devices more than the past generations. This has created an increase in the use of technology, including digital literacy, in and out of the classroom. One thing I found interesting was, “For example, an English classroom may explore social justice movements by looking at the rhetorical structure of hashtags in social networks, or a social science classroom may use video editing software to support student-created documentaries tied to the history of the school’s community. In both cases, the digital tools are secondary to the teacher’s literacy and learning goals.(ILA, 2018). Now why do I find this interesting? I had never thought of digital literacy being an extension of what I was already teaching. So many times I find myself using the same online software or apps for students to go on as a “early finishers” choice. I forget that we can also use this as an extension or opportunity to reinforce what we have taught. For example, the math program my school uses has the option to use quick checks that are online. This would be a perfect example of a digital extension that enhances the learning in the classroom.
On the other hand, people have been arguing that with the uprise in digital literacy, there may be a downfall in children's ability to read. This is proven to be wrong when ILA states, “Moreover, the uptake of reading novels on digital devices or consuming fiction through audiobooks is on the rise. Building ELA classrooms around digital contexts does not override the purpose or value of literature in the lives of young people” (2018). I find this to be fascinating because I had never thought about how audiobooks or even books accessible to be read to students can enhance their knowledge of the English language. I think back to my ENL kiddos who would have benefitted from this. My hopes are that I can somehow use this in the future.
One takeaway that I had from “Digital Literacy” would be, “Furthermore, the study found that middle skills jobs that require use of digital technologies pay more and provide a career pathway into middle and high-skill jobs (Burning Glass Technologies, 2017, p. 3)”. This was one of my takeaways from the article because I think it shows that even with the simplest of jobs, you still need to have basic computer skills. As a fifth grade teacher, you don’t find yourself trying to prepare your students for jobs in the future, but now it has me thinking. What if I started using computer skills as one of my stations for ELA RTI? What would I want them to work on? The one thing that everyone can benefit from (at least in fifth grade) would be typing skills. We have access to something called typing.com where students can practice typing in any format they want, Ex. email, letter, paragraph, and many other forms of online writing practices. This article helped me to open my eyes to using this, even at the younger grades.
How else can I implement these skills in my everyday classroom? I feel this is the question that I am ALWAYS asking myself. With the new digital literacy standards that came out with NYS, I want to make sure my students are not only meeting, but exceeding those standards. I feel that most of the “Digital Literacy” article was aimed mainly for the high grades, but it did spark a few things in me. I think it mainly gave me the idea to reach out to my librarian and ask for reliable and kid friendly articles and research based websites where they can use this information on their biography projects. I currently have them choosing a person from the Renaissance period and creating a 3-D project with it as well as a poster. I was thinking I could not only have them gather information from our readers, but then lean on these websites for further information. Furthermore, I think that digital literacy stems further than just reading an article online when it comes to fifth grade and even younger grades. Beecher states, “In other words, literacy is not just the ability to read and write. It is also being able to effectively use digital technology to find and analyze information. Students who are digitally literate know how to do research, find reliable sources, and make judgments about what they read online and in print. Next, we will learn more about digital literacy” (Beecher, 2023). I think if I were to start to use and teach digital literacy in the beginning of the year, I can only imagine where my students would be. Being able to understand the relationship between technology and literacy will allow them to see the importance of online learning. If they can make the connection between learning online as a benefit to their education and know which sites to gather information from and what sites to not, they will be in a better place to be more successful.
Blog Post 2 Reply #1 -
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your analysis of the misconception that the uprise of digital literacy will lead to the downfall of reading skills and comprehension. As a young student I struggled with reading as a result of my poor vision and associated visual condition. This made it difficult for me to practice reading as I struggled to physically see the words and letters on the page. By utilizing technology to simultaneously listen to and read written language I have a wider variety of opportunity to expose myself to written language. Overtime this helped me develop stronger reading skills and reading comprehension skills. While I am still not always the best reader, and defiantly not to the point I wish I was, I find value in these forms of technology because without them I truly believe I would barely be able to read (if at all)! Additionally, I enjoy your reflection on the idea of teachers at every level ensuring that they are actively working to prepare their students for their future after k-12 education. As an adolecent teacher I feel the need to constantly consider if my students are being adequately prepared to leave their k-12 education with goals of going to college, entering the work force, or achieving other post-graduate goals. However, I beleive that this needs to be considered at even younger grades since we see that in Instructional Education Plan meetings as early as seventh grade teams are having to consider post-secondary goals for students. Thus, if these discussions are expected to be happening as early as seventh grade, then we must begin preparing our students for them even earlier! You note the power of teaching basic computer skills as a building topic towards post-secondary success, are there any other ideas, skills, or competencies regarding new literacies that you believe you can teach your students in their childhood stage of development to begin preparing them for post-secondary success? With student's having seemingly earlier access to social media and internet with many elementary schoolers even having access to their own phones, there is a growing importance to teaching students the power that is represented in the technological advances and how they can use them to their advantage. During my k-12 education I did not have a smart phone until I was in high school, prior to that I had a track phone starting in fifth grade because at that time I would be walking myself home from the bus stop. However the other day I met up with a friend who has a younger sibling that is in the third grade and her sibling had her own smartphone! Knowing that students are having earlier access to technology and the opportunities it presents create a greater need for addressing new literacies at earlier ages. Have you considered the perspective that even the ideas aimed towards higher grade levels can be adopted to support media literacy in childhood and even early childhood development?
Hi Fallon,
ReplyDeleteI relate to commonly using the same apps and websites more as "filler" in my classroom when I could be using it as an extension activity to build on the lesson at hand. Students start to lose interest in sites like IXL because as a department, it's used more as busy work and not as a learning tool. I also agree with the importance of using audiobooks and that they are not standing in the way of a child learning to read. Audiobooks are used as assistive technology for many students who are still learning to read. I find it really helpful for my students to read along while listening to their audiobook! I'd also like to note that I love that your school uses typing.com. Mine does too and it is so beneficial for students to learn these skills at a young age. I think all educators need to teach into digital literacy so when projects arise, like yours, students can appropriately use technology to assist them.
Hi Fallon!
ReplyDeleteIt was truly fascinating to read your take on this subject. Seen as though you are a fifth grade teacher and I am a high school art teacher, we do definitely have some differences in our everyday classroom environments. With this being said, there are quite a few things that you mentioned that I strongly agree with and can see the future influence it has on students down the line in their educational career. One thing you mentioned that really stood out to me was implementing typing and other computer skills into their learning at an early age. As mentioned before, I am a secondary, high school teacher, and one of the struggles nearly all of my students face in the classroom is the ability to navigate a keyboard. It is clear that typing and basic computer skills are no longer being enforced as they used to be, and this does hinder their abilities to perform successfully in the classroom when it comes to certain digital assignments. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!