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?
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
Hi Christina!
ReplyDeleteFirst, I enjoyed being on your blog with the theme, it definitely made it easier to engage in your work!
I have used the website called Nearpod as a college student and would definitely consider using it in my future classroom. It was used by my professor as a way to familiarize us with a resource we could use in the future. Nearpod, for anyone not familiar, is really just a site for students to log into in which they view a teacher's powerpoint and have tasks such as matching, questions to answer, post its to add, or videos that can be watched. It was really a great and useful program
I agree with your points of empowering all students with various forms of literacy. Just exposing students to multimedia and other languages expands their understanding and familiarity with other cultures which is so valuable in this beautifully diverse world.
Hi Christina! I too had the same thoughts when I read Knobel and Lankshear. It made me stretch my brain to think about how I use social media and how it could be incorporated into the classroom. Last year, when I was still teaching 6th grade I was really nervous because my entire 6th grade had created a snapchat group chat and text group chat. At first I was worried because of online bullying, and their digital citizenship, but it became a community for them to share things with each other. If they forgot their homework at school they would send the blank version to their classmates, they would celebrate birthdays and they would make plans to hangout together after school. The sense of community and the ability to celebrate each other helped our classroom culture and made our Friday Meetings more meaningful.
ReplyDeleteHello Christina,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog post and liked many of the points that you made. Your goal of making sure students are prepared being the reasoning to incorporate new literacy strategies and practices is something I can relate to. I believe the ultimate goal for us as educators is to ensure students are prepared to enter the real world and the workforce. Having these students complete tasks that simulate real world tasks can be helpful to them. Itry and do this within my classroom, by occasionally having students research and discuss with one another different current events and I incorporate technology by allowing them to use laptops in order to conduct their research.
To answer your question, I do not have any media platforms for my students, but I always encourage them in the beginning of the year to make sure they are in communication with one another, with whatever digital medium they prefer. This is to encourage collaboration and engagement amongst their peers. Great post!
Well thought out blog. I too try and incorporate social media into my lessons. One thing I try to always find is those AI looking and sounding videos from TikTok. I have been finding them to help demonstrate varying cultures and practices of ancient civilizations. This has been extremely effective when trying to capture their attention.
ReplyDelete