New Media & New Literacies

 Today’s students are surrounded by new media and new literacies.  They have devices in their homes, rooms, and on their person that inform them throughout the day that something is happening somewhere.  Perhaps it’s a family member texting, or an update about how many Snaps they are receiving.  They have the ability to use their watch to access Google, to record others on their devices and share selfies.  My students love being able to show off how many TikTok dances they can do and if they are up to date on the latest trends.  Since the majority of my pupils are in elementary school, they don’t tend to question whether what they hear or see on their device is fact, opinion, or fiction.   There are ways for educators to teach students how to assess the content that they receive through their devices.  Aguilera suggests that a 3-step approach can be used in assessing digital media:  what is on the screen, what is behind the screen, and what i...

I have been an educator since 1997 and have taught a variety of classes in different ways:  theatre to middle schoolers, general music to nursery children, band lessons and rehearsals, chorus to elementary students, and introductory jazz to my homeschool jazz band.  One thing that I was not as prepared for in my pedagogy classes in the 1990s was utilizing technology beyond stereos, albums, CDs, and cassettes.  Let’s not forget VHS and overhead projectors!  I was still using most of these when I stopped teaching in 2007 to be at home with my children when the military relocated us again.   Fast forward to 2018 when I began teaching once more, with online curricula sources, ubiquitous SMART and Eno boards, and nary a book to be found for the students to use for music class.  This was a change in epic proportions not only for my brain to wrap around, but for me to adapt my entire style of teaching for my students in this new digitally-centered community! ...

                                                              How New Literacies are Relevant to Us     Literacy is not simply being able to read and write, it has expanded as technology has taken a foothold in our personal lives and workspace.  When access to technology in a school setting is not monitored and employed effectively, it can have a detrimental effect on learning.  A cell phone ban is coming shortly to New York State, and I have mixed feelings about it.  As an educator, I have seen middle and high schoolers have a better grasp of when to use their device and even have had them use them for research purposes during instruction.  I have also seen how kids can cyberbully during school time, record the teacher or other students without their permission, and sim...

Defining New Literacies and Why They Matter     There are many ways for students to access information in the 21st century.  Educators have the ability and duty to help curate access for their students and instruct how to utilize various technologies.  New platforms have opened up a world of data at our fingertips; navigating this landscape takes time and skill.  But what is music literacy, and how does it differ in this digital age?     Literacy in its basic form is the ability to read and write, yet is also encompasses different communities sharing and communicating (National Council of Teachers of English).  Classically trained musicians read music when they practice or perform a piece, and some write original and/or arrange previously written music.  Decoding music to perform it as written is thought as being literate in the musical community.  There are various forms in which music can be written, the earliest being presse...

Good evening!  My name is Jana Hallberg.  I am a music teacher in the Syracuse City School District.  I graduated from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam in 1997 with a Bachelor's in Music Education, have taught in public and parochial schools in several states from nursery through grade 12, strings, band, chorus, theatre, general music, and have and continue to perform in a variety of ensembles.  I started a homeschool band and orchestra with friends in Viriginia Beach which is still going strong, and am the front ensemble caption head for The Pride of SCSD Marching Band.  I love to teach students of all ages and lead them through performances, but I also desire to obtain further experience in leadership roles within my school district and community.  The arts are an integral part of every student's education, and bringing the arts to the community helps students to engage with others outside of school in a positive way.   I ...