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 simply use it to check out mentally. This is why it is so important to teach them how to utilize current techs. Using devices can help students who were previously disengaged to become part of classroom discussion or to communicate more effectively. (LITERACY LEADERSHIP BRIEF Improving Digital Practices for Literacy, Learning, and Justice More than Just Tools). There are also adults who can demonstrate how they themselves use their devices when appropriate to model how tech can be used on the job. If a device becomes a distraction, a child or adult needs to be able to self-aware to notice before being reprimanded by an instructor or employer.
The use of technology and the ability to adapt has increased significantly over the past 25 years. I used to hand write all of my lesson plans, and now I am expected to upload them from my computer to a sharing platform for administrators to view. As a music teacher, it is my duty to aid in the moving up ceremonies by providing music and ensuring the equipment and PowerPoint is cued up and synced with the music. I attend some meetings online or through a combination of phone and computer for a CSE (Committee on Special Education) meeting with educators, care-givers, and professionals working with students. Digital Literacy This Brief stated that 73% of workers in entry-level service work lacked the ability to problem solve in digital formats, yet most still use tech they are not comfortable using or struggle to use regardless. This shows that technology is a part of many jobs whether or not we are digitally competent.
Digital literacy is important whether one is at home or at work. Educators, how can we best model for our students best digital practices? How can we help students with little to no access at home to catch up to their peers at school? There is so much that we already have to teach, so it can seem like a pushing a boulder uphill, but we can find ways to get that boulder to be easier to maneuver and even use it to our advantage.
References
Digital Literacy This Brief.
LITERACY LEADERSHIP BRIEF Improving Digital Practices for Literacy, Learning, and Justice More than Just Tools.
I thought this posted on Wednesday, it didn't update the post and I didn't see it until now.
ReplyDeleteHi there! I really enjoyed reading your post! You touch on some very real concerns about the role technology can play in education. Regarding the new cell phone ban, I also don’t know how I feel. After reading the materials throughout this module, it’s clear to me that phones and tablets can be powerful tools for learning and engagement when used responsibly. That’s the tricky part, in many classrooms, they are used more as a distraction than as a tool. This is where we have to teach students when it is appropriate to use certain digital tools, going back to the idea of teaching students to be digitally aware and literate. Instead of texting or cyberbullying, they could use their devices to set reminders for due dates or to do research during class. We cannot expect students to know how to appropriately apply technology within the classroom if we do not teach them.
ReplyDeleteYou also mentioned your role in coordinating music and tech for ceremonies. On a smaller scale within your classroom, do you think integrating creative projects that involve both tech and music could help your students build some 21st-century digital skills?