According to Futurelab (2010)
digital literacy ‘involves critically engaging with technology and developing a
social awareness of how a number of factors…can shape the ways in which
technology is used to convey meaning’ (pp3). In other words its being able to
use technology to communicate through different contexts, formats, modes and
for different audiences and purposes. Over the last ten years digital
technologies have increased in today’s popular culture with mobile phones,
websites, TV, computers, Ipads and emailing (Futurelab, 2010) and just as it
has an effect on general culture it also has an effect on childhood (Arthur,
2004). Therefore teachers should care about childhood in a digital age because
outside of school children are already actively manipulating digital
technologies to be able to participate in their social and cultural world
(Futurelab, 2010). Furthermore it has long been argued that it is important to
find out the background of the child and the influences they have on their
learning so that teachers can better support the within the classroom. Since
digital literacies are a growing part of children’s home lives it can then be
suggested that this should therefore be addressed in the classroom (Lambirth,
2003).
Another reason why teachers should care about digital literacy is
because one of the aims of the Literacy National Curriculum (DfE, 2013) is to
teach children to communicate effectively for different means and purposes.
Additionally teachers have a duty to prepare children to be able to make sense
of the word (Futurelab, 2010). Since digital technologies are part of the
social world and are an increasingly important method of communicating it could
be suggested that it is children’s entitlement to be digitally literate. Finally
digital literacy offers many opportunities to develop, enhance and support
learning and by using them alongside traditional ways of understanding children
can gain a much deeper understanding of the world (Futurelab, 2010). For
example children are taught key features of film and how the portray a
storyline (DfE, 2013), teachers could then take this knowledge and enable the
children to create their own films and animations which will extend their
experiences (Futurelab, 2010).
In conclusion, teachers should
care about digital literacies and childhood in a digital age because it is an
increasingly influential aspect of children’s lives and as a result they need
to be taught how to use it efficiently for different purposes and to use it
safely (Futurelab, 2010). Furthermore by using an aspect of life which is current
teachers can make learning purposeful and more applicable to the wider world.
Bibliography
Arthur, L. (2005) ‘Popular
Culture: views of parents and educators’ in Marsh, J. (2005) Popular
Culture, New Media and Digital Literacy in Early Childhood Oxon:
RoutledgeFalmer
DfE (2013) The national curriculum
in England Framework document Nottingham: DfE accessed from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/260388/MASTER_final_national_curriculum_11_9_13_2.pdf
Futurelab
(2010) Digital literacy across the
curriculum a Futurelab handbook Bristol: Futurelab
Lambirth,
A. (2003) ‘”They get enough of that at home”: Understanding aversion to popular
cultures in schools’ Reading 37(1) pp.9-13
I agree with all the points you raised. It is inarguable that teachers need to engage with digital literacies, as they are part of young people's lives - and part of pretty much everyones life nowadays! I feel that not engaging with digital literacies would be shutting yourself off to a whole potential for learning and engaging children in their work. The point you mentioned about knowing the child's background is yet another reason why teachers should engage with digital literacies; you wouldn't go the school year without finding other aspects of your children's everyday lives, so why not engage with their digital activity too? It's a must!
ReplyDeletePopular culture I feel is so important to use in primary classrooms and it does have effect on children’s childhood. I agree with all your points on why teachers should care about digital technology. Digital technology is everywhere and should be implemented. My reading on ‘Marsh Et Al on Digital Beginnings’ is a good read as it talks about parents and how they see digital literacy. From your reading and mine together digital literacy is seen vital and in a positive light as indeed it is a huge part of children lives.
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