Sarah Kovalenko
Reflection
on New Literacies
Literacy is defined as the ability to read and write.
Traditional or foundational literacy is the use of printed or written materials
to comprehend, analyze, or communicate words and text. Included in foundational
literacies are textbooks, novels, and articles, which may be of any topic and
of various contexts. The traditional approach to literacy has been used for
many years in the classroom, and has been effective and successful.
However, times change, and in the
21st century technology plays a major role in our lives. In order to
ensure that students are well prepared for life beyond school, they need to be
given the opportunity to use and explore tech tools. The New Literacies are
used to help students learn content, while getting all the gains of using
technology. Students learn how to interpret words and images that they come
across in tech tools, and they learn to communicate language using multimedia
and online programs. Students learn to improve literacy in a virtual sense,
rather than in the written sense. In addition, technology increases motivation,
differentiation, and methods of assessment.
There are unlimited tools that
students can use in the classroom, such as Blogger, VoiceThread, Edmodo,
Classkick, Book Builder, and much more. Students are learning using these
things, rather than writing a plain report. This not only enhances their
literacy skills, but it also gives them the opportunity to learn how to use
tech tools. Students learn how to take a tech tool, apply it to their learning,
and use it as a way to show understanding of learning.
In all, using New Literacies in the
classroom is extremely beneficial as it prepares students for life by providing
them with critical skills and knowledge in the virtual world, which is the key
to success in the 21st century.
Interview with Language Arts Teacher
The teacher that I spoke to had
very positive things to say about the use of new literacies in the classroom.
She has only begun using new literacies a few years ago, and she feels that it
adds a lot to the classroom. She admitted that at first, she was a bit hesitant
about implementing new literacies in her Language Arts classroom. She felt that
the traditional has worked successfully for her for many, many years, and so
she was not looking to change her ways. She also was not very tech savvy, and she
was worried to use technology that she didn’t know how to use. However, she
discussed this with several other teachers, and they convinced her to try it.
They even taught her and showed her how to use certain tools. Now, she is
extremely happy that she uses technology regularly, as the students are always
very excited with it, and they gain tremendously from it. Now, if she gets
stuck and can’t figure out how to do something, she always has students that
know how to work the technology and are eager to help! The teacher would
definitely tell other Language Arts teachers to use new literacies in their
classrooms.
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