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.
Friday, September 25, 2015
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.
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.
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Simone,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your post and I have the same opinion. I believe that new media has a place in the classroom without replacing traditional texts. However it has been and will continue to be a challenge to find a balance between the two. I myself really enjoyed reading as a teenager and I would like for future generations to partake in that tradition. However I understand that technology will only be a bigger part of our lives moving forward, therefore we should try to incorporate it in the classroom to the benefit of our students. New media can help keep students interested by connecting them to current events or methods of communication such as blogs and discussion boards. Hopefully this course will help us with new strategies to integrate technology that incorporates literacy.
"Although the face of literacy is changing, that doesn't mean the old must be thrown out." This quote to start off the last part of your post caught my eye the most. It seems to be reoccurring theme in history that whenever there is change there will be those who fight against it. Change such as this here in this digital age is not going to be slowed as growth seems to be moving as quickly as ever. We must make room for it and allow digital and traditional literacy to live together in the world of education.
ReplyDeleteIt is strange to think of where traditional literacy will lie in the future. I have a feeling that digital literacy and literacy in general will just become one in the same.