What do I expect to gain from taking this New Literacies class?

What do I expect to gain from taking this New Literacies class?

Well, I hope to have a better understanding of what is and isn't a New Literacy, how to potentially incorporate a New Literacy into my current classroom, and really, have a better - more educated - view point, opinion, whatever you want to call it, regarding the New Literacies.  A few things that I have found that I DO NOT like so far are:

1. It is an area that is not widely taught in undergraduate, pre-teaching courses.  However, it does sound like that is beginning to change.
2. Our guest speaker last week, Dr. David O'Brien from the University of Minnesota (Literacy Education Professor), stated that there would no longer be printed curriculum (no textbooks). While I feel that a textbook is not necessary to teach a subject, and access to other literacies is beneficial, poor districts, such as the one that I work for, will be that much further behind.
3. THE DEATH OF THE BOOK - Dr. O'Brien also stated that the death of the book - the printed word on paper - was working it's way toward obscurity - extinction!  As a book lover, I find this most disheartening.  While I like to use my Kindle, I still like to hold the real-deal in my hands.

I'm sure there were others, these are just the ones that have 'stuck' the most at this point.

Things that I like so far are:

1. Collaboration and Research - at all levels within the insitutition of education. 
2. Again, while New Literacies are not widely taught, they are beginning to get their own class 'time' in higher learner institutions.

I probably should have discussed the lack of multimedia instruments as well.  We have ONE of each of these for our entire student body:  Kindle and I-pad. 

I stated in my last blog that I had found some books that may help in my quest for maximizing my limited capabilities.  Here are the titles that I was speaking of:

• This book has yet to be published, but is expected in June 2013.

• This Second Edition is due March 26, 2013

• Concrete, innovative ways to integrate media literacy across curriculum.

And here are others that I am hoping my help me . . .

What am I doing?

So, what am I doing to promote the use of new literacies in my classroom?  The answer to that question is . . . . not much. 

Why? In a nutshell;

• I teach in a small, about 140 students, urban charter school that services students in grades K - 8th.  In other words, we are poor, poor, and more poor. Out of my 21 students in grades 3 and 4, only 12 have some kind of internet access at home or at grandma's.
• I have two student computers in my room that I allow students to use to take Accelerated Reader quizzes and conduct research (when sites aren't blocked).
• While the school that I work at has a computer lab, it is antiquated and my students do not get time in it!  I have repeatedly brought up the desire to have my students have technology instead of art (these days you can do art using techonology!), but it would require contacting our chartering institution and making a curriculum change.  That sounds easy enough to me, but I guess it is not that easy or at least I am made to believe that the process isn't that easy.
• I do have a Smart Board, but many times it is not a reliable resource to use. So, I don't utilize it as much as I could if it always behaved and worked as it should.

I would love to do more, but with the financial constraits of my school and, therefore, the lack of technology, I have some hurdles to overcome. 

I have recently come across numerous books that I am hoping will add insight to my plight and help me maximize the potential that I do have.  I will be posting that book information next.