Developing Literacy for Learning: Digital Literacies: "Please discuss the two articles about blogging and digital literacies here..."
I thought that the articles on digital literacies and HOT blogging were very interesting. In the Digital Literacies article the authors stated, “It behooves each of us to seriously consider how best to weave together old, new, and future literacies so that young people leave school literate in the ways of school and in the ways of the world.” I think that this idea is crucial. Today’s society is constantly changing and growing more and more dependent on technology. While I think that it is important embrace the digital age I also think it is important to continue educating students with traditional print literacies. We should provide students with the opportunity to explore both practices and to intertwine them in order to create the most meaningful learning experiences. The authors also discussed the idea that digital technologies in schools should be driven by educational purposes. I completely agree with this idea. The purpose of a school is to educate students therefore practices within the school should reflect that. I enjoyed the article on HOT blogging. I was first introduced to blogging in my Children’s Literature class and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. I thought it was confusing at first and if I couldn’t figure it out, how could I expect my students to? After more experience with blogging and reading the article I think that this is a tool that I will use in my own classroom. I think that it is a great way for student to express ideas and opinions and to communicate with others in a way that provides a meaningful learning experience. I think that students would have fun blogging about their own ideas and responding to those of others. I really liked the idea about a showcase blog. This is a great way to acknowledge student’s accomplishments and expose students to a wider audience.
I thought that both articles, Digital Literacies and HOT Blogging, were both great readers. The authors of the articles, O'Brien and Scharber and then Lisa Zawilinski, did an excellent job of expressing their viewpoints on basically digital media/literacy in the school system. I agree with O'Brien and Scharber that schools do need to prepare students for new literacies by integrating the new media literacies into the curriculum. If they aren't in the curriculum, which the standards are changing, then teachers most likely aren't going to put a heavy emphasis on teaching it to their students. Teachers have a lot of cover in one school year and putting heavy focus on something that isn't expected or not on the end of grade test will most likely not be of high concern. However, most teachers would probably attempt to include integrated subjects that aren't in the curriculum that they see as beneficial. So, teachers, older and newer need to adjust to the always changing curriculum and the curriculum today is changing more towards media literacy. I liked how in the HOT Blogging article it gave examples of different kinds of blogs that you can do within you classroom. I could really see myself in the next year or two, or whenever I find a teaching job, using a blog in my classroom. I could see myself using it with upper grades as part of projects or homework; however, in younger grade classrooms I could see myself using it for parental support. I could use blogs to put on homework assignments, videos of interest, homework helping websites. For parents, I could put up newsletters that are sent home and possibly even pictures I have taken in the classroom. I think that blogging would be a great idea to use in the classroom! I liked how in the Digital Literacies article it mentioned the term "digital divide." I think that this term is important today because since our society is shifting to a more digital world, some students don't have access to these digital inventions and that can become a problem. So, as teachers we need to do a better job of making sure that they do have access in school and are practicing their skills there if they don't have access at home, because knowing such information is vital in today's society. I think that both of these articles were good reads and really got me thinking about how I might use new technology in my future classroom!
ReplyDeleteWhitney...
ReplyDeleteI can relate about the beginnings of blogging. When I first started blogging for some classes I did find it confusing. However, over time it became easier and easier to manuever through the blogs. I also think that it would be a great idea to use in the classroom! Maybe we can do it together!
I myself am still not very technology savvy. I have grown up in the day and age that has invented and improved so many forms of technology ,so I feel I should be better with these things. After reading the O'Brien and Scharber article, I realized how important it really is for me to be sufficient with the latest technologies because the future generations are not going to be able to get by with just a knowledge of Microsoft word and some savviness with the world wide web like I have. Everything is switching to be computer based in the world and I agree with the article that we need to bridge the gap between the real world and the world of school and bring technology in as a companion to the rest of the curriculum. After reading Zawilinski's article I feel that blogs are a great way to include technology and the use of computers in a structured format. additionally I feel it can be used to help the students see how things they are doing in the class are building upon each other and are not just separate entities as it sometimes may seem.
ReplyDeleteMeghan
ReplyDeleteI agree that teachers are likely to include things into their lessons that may not be in the curriculum but they see as beneficial. Even if technology is not as strong of a part of the curriculum yet as it should be, it is important that teachers be educated in ways to use technology to increase the benefit of a lesson. I also agree that as teachers it is our responsibilty to help get rid of the digital divide by allowing students to use technology during school hours incase they are unable to access quality technology at home
Diana,
ReplyDeleteI agree that with the day and age we have grown up in I feel like I should be far more advanced in technology than I am. I think that teaching our students how to be sufficient in this technology is then even more important. I think that blogging is a great way to introduce students to technology and the use of the internet. There are many things we could do as teachers to teach both of those 21st century skills that our students will need.
When I first started blogging last semester I found it very difficult to understand and thought it was a waste of time. But after reading the two articles on technology I realize how important it is for me to learn how to use these technologies so that my students will learn from me and become sufficient as well. In the world we live in right now to not know and understand technology is to not know and understand how the world is communicating with each other. Students need to learn how to make use of all of the technologies offered to them because it may be all we have in the future to communicate with. If I were to teach an upper elementary classroom I think I would use a blogging site to have children write about aritcles or different subjects on just so they have that experience to grow on. Even in our 21st Century Skills technology is a major part of that and in order to be proficient in society we as teacher and our students need to learn how to utitilize the electronics all around us.
ReplyDeleteDiana,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your reflection one hundred percent. We as teachers do need to bridge the gap between what we learned growing up and what our students in today's day and age need to learn in order to make it in the real world. I also like that you recognize that not all students are able to use technology at home. You understand the importance of using technology at school where it is available to everyone and I love that idea!!