Literacy in the classroom has gone from a teacher giving presentations on a novel using handouts, the chalkboard and/or poster, students taking notes using pens and paper, in preparation for an essay assignment to the 21st century classroom that uses 21st century literacies. Here, students and the teacher are grouped around computers, where they collaboratively use technology to enhance their learning which will be posted on a classroom wiki.
"Literacy has always been intimately tied to a technology," says Kylene Beers. Yet, says Beers, "the demands of the 21st-century literacy are more complex and challenging than those of the 18-century literacy....As technology continues to evolve, always moving toward the more sophisticated, our literacy capacities must also grow more sophisticated." (Collier 2007)
Teachers need to become fluent in the language of newer technologies to help students thrive in the 21st century literacies. Students are coming to class fluent in text messaging, instant messaging, and blogging often to a far greater degree than their teachers. This shift from a page-based to a screen-based society has caused the change in literacy. Students have changed, therefore, teachers need to alter their teaching methods accordingly. Not only will this keep the students engaged and motivated, but will prepare them for a technologically oriented workplace. (Collier 2007)
Teachers cannot assume that students already know the "tech stuff" and only need to improve in their writing and thinking skills. First of all, not all students have the technological knowledge and those who do have it need to learn how to manage those skills.
On another note, not all school districts are created equal. In some districts, it is a struggle to provide 21st century technologies to their students. The resources are just not there. Teachers just need to make the most out of what they have.
I believe Sara Kajder sums it up, "Because the technology is always changing, and because the tools are always changing, it's a hugely challenging time to be a teacher." (Collier 2007)
Collier, Lorna. The Council Chronicle. November 2007. Retrieved on August 19, 2015 from https://www.stenhouse.com/assets/pdfs/ccnov07shift.pdf
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I enjoyed reading your post and I agree with you 100% in the fact that teachers must know the technology before they introduce it into the classroom. Yes there will be times when students know more about it than you do but often times you are introducing new tools these students have never used. Therefor, it is imperative that teachers educate themselves first (and be willing to learn it) before they bring it to the classroom. I myself have come across this many times in the past couple of years.
ReplyDeleteTami,
ReplyDeleteI like your statements that not all school districts are created equal. Some schools simply do not have the resources for a whole lot of technology. I am fortunate to be in a district that has a lot of resources. Even then, it can still be a struggle. I love letting students bring their own devices. It really allows for a greater amount of resources and tools to be used in the classroom.
While I completely agree that teachers need to be fluent in technology literacy, they don’t need to master every tool. Sometimes I tell students that we are going to learn new tool or program together. I get great feedback from them on it. It also allows them to how I deal with problem solving and issues that come about in those programs.
I like you approach to introducing a new tool or a new program WITH you students. This technique shows your students that even as teachers we are still learning all the time as well. I believe that it is important for our students to know that we are constantly learning also and that we make mistakes also.
DeleteI love what you said about how learning has changed from a page-based to a screen-based society. It is absolutely true. As educators, we have got to get on board with the technology of today and allow our students to use the tools of this generation. If we aren't a part of the solution to encourage our students to achieve their full potential by using what they are accustomed to, then we are a part of the problem. We need to meet our students where they are, and with the skills they have acquired in technology. Great post, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTami,
ReplyDeleteDo you see value in having students bring their own devices (BYOD) when schools don't have the resources to provide them?
Dr. Dell