An old literacy, the written word, won tonight! I couldn't get the new literacy - my computer and camera - to cooperate. With that said, let me start with some 'old literacies' such as: oral storytelling, hieroglyphics, wood block printing, engraving, and the modern printing press.
With the invention of the printing press we have books, newspapers, magazines, journals, comic books, political flyers, and advertisements. We have communicated in a certain way for many years. Many of us understand the nuances of verbal and written communication. When someone speaks to us we understand through visual cues if they are happy, sad, or angry. There are certain cues within the written word as well, words chosen, pressure applied when writing, and the neatness of the print. We can usually tell if the note writer is happy or upset with the words chosen. We have also had these modes of communication inherently censored by us and for us.
With the advent of the computer age and many different 'new literacies', electronic media barriers have been removed and we can receive more information regarding a plethora of different topics - positive and negative - at lightening speeds. With just a click of a button or the touch of a screen you can invite many different types of individuals or groups into your home, school, or work environment and interact at a level you are comfortable with.
Dr. David O'Brien spoke to our class this semester and said that the death of the book was imminent. This makes my hair bristle just a bit. Could this happen? Really? Definitely. Who would have thought that with the invention of the computer and the internet that we would see the printed word - printed on paper, something tangible, something that smells delicious, that can have a multitude of somethings spilled on it and still 'work' would pass away?
Borders closed. Have you been inside a Barnes and Noble or a Schuler Books lately? Do you notice that the selection of books is dwindling? Calendars, music, games, puppets, stationary, and other items are taking their place.
The local newspaper is printed once a week, Sunday. The rest of the week you have to get your news from the internet. The little town in which I live closed down their newspaper years ago and have published an internet based newspaper since.
With the death of the book comes the death of the author, at least to a certain degree. Anyone can post anything about any topic - anonymously. You don't have to 'own' your work. It used to be that you had to prove yourself a well-written, well-versed, knowledgeable individual to have your work published. Not anymore.
New literacies are taking over! The ways we communicate have grown vastly in number and changed in their complexity. We don't write letters anymore, we e-mail or text. The art of writing (pencil/pen and paper) is practically archaic and is considered a slow, tedious, and cumbersome process.
Now we have blogs! Like bloggymom, InsaneJournal, WordPress, LiveJournal, Blogabond, Blogcheese, Freevlog, Ufem, Edublogs, Blogger, Blogster, and Soulcast. Each of these target a different and unique audience.
We have social networks! AsianAvenue, Buzznet, CafeMom, CaringBridge, Classmates.com, Crunchyroll, Elftown, Eons.com, FilmAffinity, Fotolog, Fubar, Gays.com, Goodreads, Google+, Hotlist, italki.com, Kiwibox, LinkedIn, Makeoutclub, Myspace, and many, many more.
We can share our photos! BeFunky, DeviantART, Flickr, Lafango, Manteresting, Photobucket, Photoshop.com, Shutterfly, Snapfish, Streamzoo, Zooomr, and more.
We have many ways to read a book! Audio books, Kindle, Nook, I-pad, I-phone, PC, tablet, etc.
Have you got my point yet? Certainly. There are even scientists, right now, at this very moment, working on a way to make a computer think/act like the human brain. We are only a microchip away from being able to be linked to our computer! I know many people who would love to be linked to their phone that way right now - wait - they already seem to be! Then, we will have no need for computers as we know them or even books as we have known them. We will only need think of the topic and it will be downloaded into our brains and thus our knowledge bank. Kinda scary. A little like mind control? I digress.
So, as an educator what am I doing about this? Well, at the moment not much. My students do not have technology class and we have two computers in the classroom. The older students have the computer lab, when it's working, monopolized. I have attempted, fairly successfully, to have students do research at different intervals on topics of their choosing. Choice seems to be the factor for engagement. Whether they are researching on the internet or in a book, they are happy. Plus, while many of my students do not have internet or even a computer at home, those that do use them to complete assignments as necessary.
What would I like to see happen? I would love to see all my students with an I-pad. Doing inquiry based projects to their hearts content. Oh, the places we could go! However, with 76% of our student body being free or reduced lunch and the fact that we are a charter school, my dreams of having technology in the hands of each of my students is, for now, a pipe dream.
How can I make this happen? I am sure there are grants out there for projects of this size and expense. I just need to take the time to find them and get busy. I can also continue to ask for and emphasize the importance of technology from my administration. Sooner rather than later they will have to do something or our students will be left behind.
Technology is a good thing and it is constantly changing. In order for our students to be successful, we must give them opportunities and encourage them use it appropriately. While keeping books, the real deal, in their hands. I don't want our future generations to become processors of words - like computers. Technology is important. Technology can be dangerous. As educators we must be vigilant in teaching our students how to interact with the multitude of modes it offers in a safe and respectable manner.
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