High Ja ja states
I most definitely think that viewing and accepting new literacies in the classroom, alongside the traditional literacies as moving away from the archaic-technologic Victorian era style teaching practices. It is not a matter of things are changing; things have changed; I see it when I observe the children in my life and how they are true ‘digital natives’ as stated by Pensky (2001:1): ‘Our students have changed radically. Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach’. Is this an inevitable outcome? No, purely because it has happened, if not in our classrooms, it has in others. Additionally, evidence suggests strongly that children’s brains have changed (Pensky,2001).
I believe it is virtually impossible in this day and age for any person, not to live their life without some interaction with modern technology. Furthermore, the more interaction and usage a person has, it potentially offers better life chances and possibly a successful career. Therefore, we owe it to our students and as educators to at least teach ICT capability (Potter and Darbyshire, 2005) and in doing so, embrace the opportunity to utilise a penopoly (a wide ranging impressive array) of teaching and learning tools for all literacies.
I see my challenge on this module as; learning as much as possible; so I can be competent, confident and a radical person in this changing weather. I know the bridge I will have to cross is difficult, so my challenge will be to have the focus, dedication and the resilience to achieve my challenge for the benefit of my children in the classroom. The easy option would be to resist change and risk being left behind.
Bibliography
Parker, J. (2010) Teaching Tech-Savvy Kids: Bringing Digital media into the classroom, grades 5-12.
London: SAGE Ltd.
Pensky, M. (2001) Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf Online: Accessed 16/01/2014
Potter, F and Darbyshire, C. (2005) Understanding and Teaching the ICT National Curriculum. Oxon: David Fulton Publishers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement that viewing and accepting new literacies in the classroom is important in this modern time. I also have seen children close me (my niece and nephew who are 4 and 5) becoming very technological within the technology they use E.g the iPad where they are able to access Netflix and select their own film they want to watch!
Could you explain by what you mean about how children’s brains have changed from the quote you have used from Pensky?