New Media & New Literacies: January 2025

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Blog Post 2 - How New Literacies are Relevant to Us

In today’s ever-changing cyber world, the notion of literacy has expanded beyond the traditional definition of being able to just read and write print texts in one dialect, academic English. It now incorporates a range of new literacies that are crucial for effective communication and engagement of students. Throughout my research of defining new literacies, involving “Sampling “the New” in New Literacies” by Lankshear, C., & Knobel, M. (2007, June), “Improving Digital Practice for Literacy, Learning, and Justice: More Than Just Tools” by (ILA, 2018), and “Digital Literacy” by (Vanek, 2019), I have recognized the elaborate nature of literacy in our modern world and its implications inside my classroom as a 5th grade science teacher.

My takeaway from Lankshear, C., & Knobel, M. (2007, June) is the dynamic nature of literacy in the digital age. The article describes how new literacies extend beyond the norm of reading and writing skills and integrate critical thinking and adaptive problem-solving for students. This idea challenged me to reconsider what it means to be literate in today's world. Throughout my education, I thought of literacy as a static term but now see it as an ever-evolving adaptive concept. The ILA article taught me the importance of using digital tools that promote equity for all in education. I was challenged with ways how to facilitate inclusivity in my classroom that empower my students rather than divide them as individuals. Vanek also allows us to see the importance of evaluating sources and insightful information, which is crucial for academic success and informed students who are all empowered.

Overall these readings have supplied me with valuable knowledge that will continue to educate me with my ongoing work in digital literacy that is always evolving. They emphasize the necessity of embracing a holistic approach that combines technical skills with an awareness of social justice in education that ensures new digital practices are meaningful as well as transformative. Where do you see components of digital literacies in your work setting?

References

International Literacy Association. (2018). Improving digital practices for literacy, learning, and justice: More than just tools [Literacy leadership brief]. Newark, DE: Author.

Lankshear, C., & Knobel, M. (2007, June). Sampling “the New” in New Literacies. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283968439_Sampling_the_new_in_new_literacies

Sang, Y. (2017). New Literacies and Multiliteracies - Eric. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1139059.pdf

Vanek (2019). Digital literacy. The American Institutes for Research. https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/TS

Blog Post 1 - Defining New Literacies and Why They Matter

In my professional and personal life, new literacies practices have become more relevant and important. As the digital age moves further, so does the ability to navigate and understand different types of communication. This communication goes further than traditional reading and writing that has been used for generations. The concept of new literacies is defined as, “socially recognized ways of generating, communicating and negotiating meaningful content through the medium of encoded texts within contexts of participation in discourses.” (Lankshear& Knobel, 2007, June, p.24). I feel what Knobel & Lankshear are trying to tell us is that new literacies incorporate skills that are related to digital media, social networking, and multimodal literacies. For instance, as a 28-year-old, I use social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat) not only to connect with family and friends but also to engage with other people that I have things in common with. These experiences demonstrate how new literacies can foster communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills which are essential in creating a successful world. An important mission of teaching and learning literacy is to equip students with literacy skills so that they can fully participate in social and cultural activities in the modern world. “ (Sang, Y. (2017) As an educator, I want to incorporate new literacies strategies and practices into my teaching so that my students are better prepared. In the future, as a Curriculum Coach, I want to provide pedagogical frameworks for teaching and learning. In the article by (Sang, Y. (2017), they recommend, “making practices using digital technologies (e.g., video games, weblogs, mobile texts, etc.)”

The definition of literacy is typically defined as being able to read and write print texts in one dialect, academic English, which poses challenges for education as well as problems in education spaces that are focused on access as well as equity. Students at my school come from very diverse backgrounds which don’t make English their first language. With English not being their first language, it creates exclusion which can impede a student's self-esteem as well as their academic performance. If we as educators expand our understanding of new literacies and embrace digital literacy that allows students to use technology as a tool of success in their learning and own cultural expression students will thrive. The International Literacy Association, (2018), emphasizes that improving digital practice is crucial not just for personal development but for fostering justice in education. Also according to Lankshear & Knobel, ( 2007, June), engaging with new literacies allows learners to participate in meaningful dialogues in their online communities. So integrating more expansive ideas of new literacies into our educational practices can empower ALL students. It recognizes their unique backgrounds while preparing them with skills that are necessary to thrive in our ever-changing world. So my question for you is do you have any media platforms that allow students to participate in meaningful dialogues in their online communities that are school safe and friendly?