Check out the link from the NCTE Inbox http://www.ncte.org/about/gov/cgrams/news/130271.htm regarding the need to update our ideas about literacy. Please read the short article and post your comments on the blog.
I agree with the article in that teachers should spend more time developing students ability to use new technologies as literary resources. I think that the change is already happening and will happen naturally as it becomes the norm to use electronic devices in class. It is probably similar to when the first written word was used in class, or when the printing press made it easier to mass produce literature. I do not agree that the most important ability that a student should have is to be able to tell the veracity of an on-line article. I believe that is important, but there are definitely more important things students need to learn to be literate.
I also agree that time should be spent teaching students to use technology efficiently, though that depends on the teachers abilities as well. I liked how in-depth this article was in describing the literacy used in the classroom and the fact that they posted their own definition. I see the point that literacy is changing. I am not the only one that researches books online before reading them, or the only one that spends time 'writing' in the form of text-messages. These are forms of literacy as well, and it's good to see that being recognized. Teachers have had to change with the times before, this is really not asking anything new of us.
I always like to remind people that there are two senses of the term "media literacy." The one that gets the most attention involves students as consumers of media--e.g., how to find and evaluate resources, how to understand advertising, how to stay safe and private on the web, etc. The other sense I think is equally important--the idea that the student is also a producer of media. Understanding how to publish ideas (this might include blogging, podcasting, digital video, posting to social networking sites, and even e-mail) and the implications of doing so is a pretty critical skill these days. A media publisher needs to be aware of the potential ethical and legal results of their work.
3 comments:
I agree with the article in that teachers should spend more time developing students ability to use new technologies as literary resources. I think that the change is already happening and will happen naturally as it becomes the norm to use electronic devices in class. It is probably similar to when the first written word was used in class, or when the printing press made it easier to mass produce literature.
I do not agree that the most important ability that a student should have is to be able to tell the veracity of an on-line article. I believe that is important, but there are definitely more important things students need to learn to be literate.
I also agree that time should be spent teaching students to use technology efficiently, though that depends on the teachers abilities as well. I liked how in-depth this article was in describing the literacy used in the classroom and the fact that they posted their own definition. I see the point that literacy is changing. I am not the only one that researches books online before reading them, or the only one that spends time 'writing' in the form of text-messages. These are forms of literacy as well, and it's good to see that being recognized. Teachers have had to change with the times before, this is really not asking anything new of us.
I always like to remind people that there are two senses of the term "media literacy." The one that gets the most attention involves students as consumers of media--e.g., how to find and evaluate resources, how to understand advertising, how to stay safe and private on the web, etc. The other sense I think is equally important--the idea that the student is also a producer of media. Understanding how to publish ideas (this might include blogging, podcasting, digital video, posting to social networking sites, and even e-mail) and the implications of doing so is a pretty critical skill these days. A media publisher needs to be aware of the potential ethical and legal results of their work.
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