Journal Entry 2 - R U Reading?

Literacy is simply defined by Merriam-Webster as, "the ability to read and write;" "knowledge that relates to a specified subject." Therefore a person who is able to read the back of the cereal box, is considered literate. However, one who reads "To Kill a Mockingbird," and is accurately able to write about race issues, as it is described in the book, would be considered more literate than the individual who can only read a cereal box. This same comparison can be drawn between a teenager, who chooses to only engage in online reading through blog posts and online fiction sites, and a youngster who in addition to reading Forbes online, also picks up hardcopies of the Wall Street Journal and  "7 Habits of Highly Effective People." While both sets of teenagers are reading, one may be getting a better part of the deal, by reading physical literature. Although times are changing and online reading is becoming more acceptable, there is still a great belief in the reading of novels and physical books. There are certain skills that are honed when one reads traditional books. Skills that will help them in the long run. Which is supported in Rich's article, wheere Mr. Gioia of the NEA is quoted as saying, " I would believe people who tell me that the Internet develops reading if I did not see such a universal decline in reading ability and reading comprehension on virtually all tests."

Although the face of literacy is changing, that doesn't mean the old must be thrown out. While online reading of blog posts and internet stories are increasing, there is still a need to know the traditional stories, in actual books. As students take standardized tests and the Regents exams, they are being asked to compare and draw reference from classic novels and traditional texts. Although there is no harm in referencing an online story, the meat of the paper is expected to come from something traditional. If our children aren't being led or encouraged to read "Lord of the Flies" and "Catcher in the Rye" in book form, in addition to their online mystery novels, how can we say we are helping them progress. New literacy has helped to open up language and reading to individuals who may have run from traditional literacy in the past. It is getting children and adults alike, to partake in an activity that at one point may have been deemed "nerdy." It is allowing new ideas to emerge in the classroom and new ways of teaching and learning to take place. While we may embrace these technological advancements, let us not forget what has withstood the test of time. 

Journal Entry 1 - New Literacies as a Social Practice - (9/18)

The fact that I am taking classes online, lends to the idea that I am "moving with the times" and open to the use of technology in formerly unheard of situations. The ability to email my advisor and have full conversations with classmates, without ever knowing what their voice sounds like, is a phenomenon and convenience wrapped up in one. My schoolbooks were purchased through an app and videos for class are watched through "Youtube." The face of literacy has evolved tremendously, with new literacies having some people embrace the change and others grappling to move forward. "New literacies, in contrast with traditional literacies, are more participatory. They are more collaborative in allowing for the open sharing and creation of information on sites like wikis and blogs" (Wilbur, 2010, p.2). They also allow large groups to come together, when face-to-face contact in not possible.

In the school where I work, new literacies are second-nature. I take attendance, post assignments and grades through an online system. Students turn in assignments digitally, and can see my feedback while at home, over the weekend. Other teachers take advantage of blog usage, in order to encourage conversations while outside of the classroom. Although the use of technology has helped to improve many areas of the literary educational experience, the overuse by some students has stunted their ability to think, write and function outside of a digitized world or medium. Gillen and Barton mention the multimodality of text (messaging), as images are intermingling with words (2010, p.6). Texting has also "given rise to an entire genre of writing and set of phrases and abbreviations (Wilbur, 2010, p. 2), outside of the standard English language. Unaware, or unable to distinguish between cyberspace and reality, the abbreviations, emoticons and lingo used by students in their digital conversations, start to appear in their educational writings. Things such as "neways" (anyways), a lowercase "i" when being used as a noun, and idk (I don't know) are seen on assignments that are turned in and correspondence with faculty. 

While literacy, both traditional and new, has its perks and downfalls with each group of individuals, I believe the advancement of technology will only prove beneficial as time progresses. Even though my students face their own setbacks with using new literacies, their knowledge of technology is great. As I continue to increase my knowledge in technology, as an educato,r I will do my best to help them use new literacies more accurately and effectively.