Digital Texts in and Out of School

Quotes

"No one form of text reigns supreme; together they construct the multimodal textual landscape of the city."  -- Digital Literacies, Introduction

The author used this quote to discuss the way in which people can get around a foreign city, such as Hong Kong, but I think this sort of thing is true even in a place like the classroom.  You go from reading a textbook to looking something up on the computer to watching a video or putting together a presentation.  There are so many different forms of text and we, as teachers, can't just focus on one of them.  They can all work together to enhance learning.

"However, access to technology is never simple--schools have qualitatively different kinds of access, with physical, digital, human, and social resources all impacting on the skills, knowledge, and learning that can be expected."  -- Digital Literacies, Chapter 1

As a substitute, I see this very often.  I've been to schools who only have one computer lab and no personal computers for the teachers, and others that are rich in technology.  Some schools within the same school district are like this, with some having more than others.  Integrating technology can be incredibly difficult when the technology itself is not available.  It's hard to be innovative when the tools are not there.  Many teachers work out of pocket and raise funds on their own to supply their classrooms.  Even within the same schools, some classrooms have more than others.  Some teachers don't even get the luxury of their own classroom, and instead have to push a cart from room to room and borrow the room's of other teachers.  They don't have the same opportunities as the other teachers.

"Literacy is not just about decoding marks on a page; it is also about performing social acts of meaning, where meanings and practices vary according to context."  -- Digital Literacies, Chapter 2

This is kind of what we've been talking about throughout the course of this class, that the definition of literacy is changing.  Literacy is no longer just the ability to read and write, but to interrupt symbols and what's on a screen.  It's also about the skills that can be learned and how they are applied.  I like how this also mentions context, because that has a lot to do with how learning is taking place.  Sometimes, students have difficulty understanding something in the context of the classroom, but may understand it better when applied in some other way.

"Clare and Tom's formal education has been driven by a strong focus on developing functional skills-based literacy as a result of current high-stakes assessment regimes and teacher accountability."  -- Digital Literacies, Chapter 3

I am a firm believer that high-stakes tests are ruining education.  So much about student learning and teacher ability is based on these tests.  However, most students, especially those in upper middle school and high school, usually don't care about these tests.  They don't care if they do well or not.  It's a waste of time for them, and they don't see the point.  They don't try their best most of the time, even when there is a reward in place.  There are also students who are brilliant that are awful at taking tests, and so they don't do well.  These tests have nothing to do with their abilities, but how well they can repeat an answer or do what is asked correctly.

Technology and the Classroom

I've always believed that incorporating technology in the classroom is a good thing, and that it can be very helpful to student learning.  We talk so much about incorporating technology and how important it is, but sometimes the resources aren't there, or they're so stretched that it's difficult to get them regularly into the classroom.  If there is only one computer lab, or one mobile lab, and every teacher wants to use them in the classroom, then it's impossible to get a hold of said lab.  It can't become a regular use in the classroom.  Not all schools are made equal, and this is especially so in areas where the school districts don't have a lot of money to spend on technology.

Illuminated Text

Media Ecology and Learning Case Interview

Interview

For this case study, I interviewed my cousin, because she is the only young person I happen to know.  She is 17 years old and will be a senior in High School.

Ask your young person to choose a pseudonym for you to use in the writing of your case.

Mia.

Do you have a computer/iPod/MPC Player/Wii/ect.?

Computer (Desktop & Laptop) - Yes
iPod - Yes
Wii - Yes
iPhone - Yes
TV - Yes

What kinds of things do you use the computer for?

Schoolwork mostly.  I use my phone for everything else.

What is your favorite thing to do on the computer?

I spend a lot of my time on Social Media.

How did you learn to do that?

I messed around with it and figured out how to do it.  Sometimes my friends showed me things and it snowballed from there.

What is your favorite game?  Why?

I spent most of BCA II playing BubbleShooter.  I also really like 1010.  It's like Tetris!  BubbleShooter because I always beat my friends at it and it takes a long time to win, so it was very distracting.  1010 because it is also distracting and makes me sleepy.

Do you know other people who do this?

Yeah.  All my friends do.

How do you use the computer at school?

I play BubbleShooter (which I'm not supposed to do) and my schoolwork.  I have online college classes, projects, research for projects, write papers, and completer classes (business/computer classes).

How would you like to use the computer at school?

I'm more of a hands on learner, so I don't feel I would benefit from virtual learning.

Do you think teachers would let you use the computer to do those things?  Why?  Why not?

I think they would be more in favor of online lessons.  The younger teachers would, but the older teachers are stuck in their ways.

Anything else you would like to tell me?

I think technology can be really helpful if you're a visual learner.  It's still beneficial, though, because it's going to keep growing and you're going to have to deal with it in life.

Quotes

"Each generation is exposed to a unique set of events that defines their place in history and shapes their outlook." -- Digital Natives, Chapter 3

"First, there is a general need to stereotype in order to reduce complexity and to apply simplified rules of thumb."  -- Digital Natives, Chapter 3

"While numbers of our old routines have remained, in many instances these routines have been added to, augmented, and, in some cases, supplanted by applications of the Internet."  -- Digital Natives, Chapter 8

"The findings suggest that rather than a homogeneous population of always connected digital natives, young people's technology activities and interests are widely varying, beyond a core set of common activities involving communication and information retrieval."  -- Digital Natives, Chapter 11

"There may indeed be a small subset of young people who are highly adept with and interested in digital technologies, but there is mounting evidence to suggest that patterns of access and use are varied and complex."  -- Digital Natives, Chapter 11

Beyond Digital Natives

Quotes

"It had been documents that young children are actually demonstrating an ability to handle screen texts even when not exposed in their own home." -- Digital Natives, Chapter 10

I found this very interesting, especially when discussing children who were not at school age.  It makes me wonder where the children have been exposed to technology.  To have knowledge of something, children usually have to be exposed to it.  If the children haven't been exposed to computers and digital text in their own homes, then where could they have been exposed at?  We live in a very digital world, so it stands to reason that somewhere, whether at a daycare or when staying with another family member or a friend, perhaps they were exposed then.  I find it hard to believe that children would just know how to operate technology if they hadn't seen and experienced it before.

"There may indeed be a small subset of young people who are highly adept with and interested in digital technologies, but there is mounting evidence to suggest that patterns of access and use are varied and complex." -- Digital Natives, Chapter 11

People, as a whole, are diverse, and sometimes I think we forget that.  It's so easy to lump everyone into a group and to apply generalizations to them.  In this case, we're saying that all young people are Digital Natives, and that all Digital Natives are good with technology.  However, that is not always the case.  Sometimes, students don't have that skill set.  Also, some students can do more advanced and complex things with a computer.  Some may have a basic knowledge of coding while others have no clue what HTML is.  These kinds of things are based on the experiences that the students have, not just their age or when they were born.

"We know from our research that for young people to develop sophisticated skills, it is crucial that they have a home where parents support them, schools where teachers support them, and libraries where librarians support them." -- Digital Natives, Chapter 12

I think this is a true statement about everything.  In general, children who have more support at home and at school do better.  They go further.  If parents don't care about their child's grades, then usually the child doesn't care either.  There is no motivation or expectation for them.  I think the order the areas are listed is important, too.  For kids, the learning and interest usually starts at home.  Parents are the ones who should push and support their kids and give them every opportunity.  Then, the kids come to school, and the teachers should do the same.  Teachers should support their students and motivate them to learn.  Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and instead of nurturing interests, teachers kill them.  Lastly, I think it is important to have librarians who are supportive and willing the help.  If a librarian is unapproachable, students are less likely to visit and use the resources available, which will ultimately hinder their learning.

Digital Literacies and Digital Natives

I think the most important idea mentioned in these chapters is that not all digital natives are the same.  Not all digital natives are tech savy young adults, and not all digital immigrants are clueless with technology.  The truth is, the human race is a diverse group of people, and we all have different interests and different skill sets.  Also, the terms digital literacy and literacy are seen as different, but to me, they seem very much the same.  Literacy can be defined not only as the ability to read and write, but also as competence in a specified area.  Therefore, with this definition, literacy is the same as digital literacy.

Meme

This meme goes with the last quote I included, because I believe that this is especially important when it comes to teaching.  This is something that is important just in today's teaching world or even in the past.  It's also important in the future.  Without support from teachers and parents, students are less likely to succeed in everything they do.

Digital Natives Presentation

*set autoplay to 10 seconds*

When putting together my presentation, my attempt was to address the different categories that go with digital natives.  All digital natives are not made equal, though we tend to generalize them to make it easier to discuss the current generation.  My presentation addresses these generalizations, but it also addresses the differences.  I think it's important to know that the majority of this generation have at least a basic knowledge of computers and other technology.  Typically, you can expect students to have a basic understanding.  However, it's also important to know that some students might not have an extensive knowledge of computers or other technology.  Some may also not have an interest in using technology or some technological tool, such as a video game.

Digital Natives: Navigating Literate Worlds

Quotes

"At the same time there is a public and political awareness about the importance of digital literacy related to education and not such a strong emphasis on testing as in many other countries." -- Digital Natives, Chapter 7

I found this very interesting.  There is a great deal of criticism over standardized tests in the United States, and the fact that teachers often "teach to the test".  Yet, here is an example of a country that doesn't emphasis standardized tests.  Instead, they focus on project-based learning and providing media to students.  I'm curious as to how well the students in this country do.  We're told that project-based learning is the best way to approach education.  We want to use project-based learning because it's fun and has the most benefit, and who likes giving tests anyway?  I found it very interesting that there is an importance placed on digital literacy, because sometimes I don't think we put enough on it.

"The Internet has brought about major changes in many aspects of culture and society.  It has fundamentally changed the ways in which activities and exchanges are carried out across sectors...While numbers of our old routines have remained, in many instances these routines have been added to, augmented, and in some cases, supplanted by applications of the Internet." -- Digital Natives, Chapter 8

The Internet is a monumental thing.  I remember being in elementary school without it, and now I can't imagine not having access.  I wouldn't be able to go to school or communicate with people like I do now.  What this chapter had to say about the presence of the Internet in our daily lives is so accurate.  I would even say that this could apply to technology as a whole.  We all have cell phones.  Most of us have Smartphones.  We still perform the same tasks as our parents or grandparents.  We go to school, go to the store, talk to friends, only instead of picking up the landline or getting in our cars and driving to campus, we pull out our phones or log onto our computer or open up Facebook.  Because the Internet and technology are such huge parts of our lives, to ignore their importance is not benefitting anyone, especially the students who don't know how to probably search for information when using it.

"Older citizens tend to feel more obligated to participate in elections and government-centered activities whereas young citizens tend to favor more personally expressive or self-actualizing politics." -- Digital Natives, Chapter 9

I found the discussion of young people in politics incredibly interesting.  I agree with a lot of what this chapter had to say on the issue.  People in my generation and younger don't participate in politics the way that the older generations do.  I feel as though a lot of us are more informed, because we have such easy access to what's going on in the world.  Social media has connected the younger generation in ways that they have never been before.  After the Supreme Court ruling this week, I could not log onto Facebook without seeing something about it.  People have been adding the rainbow filters to their profile pictures to show their support.  This is part of the self-expressive politics.

The Role of School

Schools and teachers should be responsible for the development of digital literacies, because the development of digital literacies does help with reading and writing.  As we've said before, today's people are interacting far more often with text.  Just because that text happens to be digital doesn't mean it's not an important part of education.  One quote from the book reads:  "The results show a strong relationship between students' digital literacy, their general school performance, and the educational background of the parents."  Students who have developed their digital literacy skills do better in school.  Another piece of evidence to this is when the book talks about the doctoral student who was observed students type an entire question into Google to find an answer.  These students have clearly never been taught how to search for information on the Internet.  Whether or not they have been taught how, students are going to attempt to find answers through the Internet.  If they're going to do it, then we as teachers might as well teach them the proper way to do it.

Meme

I feel as though we're all guilty of this at some point.  Whenever we're not sure of an answer to a question, we immediately pull out our phone or open up our computer and type it into Google.  I've been guilty of doing this even when teaching when a student asked me a question I was certain of.  I've seen other teachers do this as well.  Students, obviously, do this too.  When working on homework, if unsure of an answer, or unable to come up with an idea, will type the question or topic into Google.  I'll admit that I even searched digital literacy memes tonight to try to come up with something for this metaphor.  As a society, we are very reliant on Google.

The Civic, Social and Multi Modal Lives of Digital Natives

Quotes

"During the last decade increasing attention in both the academic and policy spheres has been devoted to the possibilities offered by the Internet and digital communications technologies for involving young people in political deliberation and civic action."  --Digital Natives, Chapter 4

We've obviously seen a great deal of evidence in relation to this.  While reading this, I thought back to the 2008 election and how Barack Obama used the internet to raise money and support, and it was seen as such a revolutionary thing.  I remember everyone talking about how his use of the internet got the youth involved, and it did.  As the technology changes, it always comes into the political spectrum, from radio to television and now the Internet and social media.  The same can be said for civic action.  Information is spread so quickly through the Internet and social media.  The site Change.org has the sole purpose of developing petitions.  Now people can post and share links to petitions and have people all over the country support their cause.  Kickstarter is great for raising funds in support of projects and causes.  It would be irresponsible for policy makers and even academic institutions to not address the benefits that can be had through the use of current technology.

"Thus it was not only the actions of Kato but also those of witnesses that caused widespread shock and criticism both inside and outside of Japan."  --Digital Natives, Chapter 5

This happens a lot today.  No event can take place anywhere in the world without it being shared on the internet.  I can't help but think about all the events that have happened this year, and how social media sites blew up with information about these events.  During the events of the Boston bombing and Fergueson, I couldn't log onto Facebook or Tumblr without seeing something related to those events.  It's interesting to see that this sort of thing doesn't happen just in our country, but everywhere.  It's not just an occurrence here in the United States.

"Generally speaking, off-task work was not portrayed in a negative light on the basis that, it contributed to social cohesiveness... In fact, learner interaction with tasks can change the nature of the envisaged tasks, both in terms of outcome and process."  --Digital Natives, Chapter 6

I found it very interesting that conversations considered off-task were included in this study.  Many educators hate off-task conversations.  They often think that students should be completely focused on the assignment at hand.  While the majority of the focus should be on the task at hand, I have to agree that the conversations that happen otherwise are equally important.  I've also learned that just because two students might be having a conversation about something else doesn't mean they aren't working on the assignment they've been given.  I myself happen to be a major multi-tasker.  I can easily write out notes or answer questions while holding a completely different conversation.  I like that this particular study didn't portray off-task conversations negatively.

Meme

I loved this image when I found it.  In the image, the girl is eating breakfast, reading a book, and doing something on her phone.  She might even be doing more than one thing while on her phone.  The ability to multi-task and work with multiple mediums is a large part of being a digital native.  I included the part about 2011 because that was when this book was published.

Digital Natives: Reflecting on the Myth

Quotes

"Contemporary children have many of the same interests, concerns, and preoccupations as children in previous generations -- even if the ways in which they manifest these through their use of technology is likely to be rather different."  -- Digital Natives, Forward

This quote stood out to me as I was reading.  It takes me back to when I was ten and I was obsessed with Pokemon.  Those who know me well will know that I still kind of am obsessed, but that's not the point.  Back then, we played the games, traded Pokemon cards, and watched the television show.  We would even play games centered around the whole experience.  I still have the binder I collected my cards in at twenty-four years old.  Why am I telling you this?  Because I see the same things happening with kids today.  I've watched fifth and sixth graders trading Pokemon cards at the lunch table and I've overheard them talk about the games and their strategies for accomplishing this and that within the game.  I've watched a kid's eyes practically pop out of his head when he saw me carrying around a 3DS and I had to explain to him that it was mine and not one that I confiscated from another student.  This is just one of the examples I have related to shared interests across generations.  Even though I was born into the start of the digital age, the technology I played the very first Pokemon games on is so much different than what is out today.  It's grown and changed.  Even the Pokemon cards kids collect are different than when I started my own collection.  But at the heart of it, we both (teacher and student) have an interest in the same thing (Pokemon).

"It is not unusual to see self-proclaimed "digital luddites" lamenting the need to escape the control and disruptive interference of email or hear them telling their students to switch off their mobile phones and laptop computers as they enter classrooms.  Some have banned the use of Google, Wikipedia, and social media applications in classrooms."  -- Digital Natives, Chapter 1

The author's tone in these two sentences suggests that this sort of attitude is a negative thing, which I disagree with.  As far as the classroom is concerned, technology always has a time and a place.  Should we, perhaps, use more of it?  Yes.  Should we allow students to keep their phones out at all times and respond to tweets, texts, emails, etc.?  No.  And that, of course, is exactly what they're doing.  I've seen this far too many times to think otherwise.  I've been guilty of it myself from time to time.  I think we all have.  Any device with internet access is a temptation, especially if the subject matter being discussed in class is not of particular interest.  I do think that these devices can be useful in the classroom, though.  I've often had students use their phones to look things up instead of taking a trip to the computer lab or borrowing the mobile lab.  It's easier and more convenient.  In this way, though, the technology use is structured.  The other part of this I have issues with is the mention of Wikipedia.  Wikipedia is usually considered the most "evil" site out there.  It's not that the information it provides isn't good, but that it can be changed to anything.  None of the reasons mentioned in this section of the book are really why teachers forbid the use of Wikipedia.  It is forbidden because it's information cannot always be counted on.

"Having grown up with digital technology as toys, Digital Natives are much more at ease with its use than the generation that did not."  -- Digital Natives, Chapter 2

This was another quote that stuck with me as I was reading, because I have a story to go with it.  Not too long ago, I was sitting in a team meeting with a group of teachers who were discussing their frustration over the four weeks it took for them to complete their testing.  One of the teachers, and one that does not belong in the Digital Native category, said something then, and it reminds me of this.  She questioned why they couldn't also make use of the school's iPad labs for testing as well, because it would allow more students to test and cut down the amount of time taken away from class.  She also pointed out that while "we" (as in some of the older teachers) were not as comfortable with typing on the iPad keyboard, that many of the students were more familiar with it because they had grown up with it.  I think this is a great example as to what this particular chapter was trying to point out, and that's that children today have grown up with the technology, and so they're far better at using it.  It's natural to them.

"Each generation is exposed to a unique set of events that defines their place in history and shapes their outlook."  -- Digital Natives, Chapter 3

There wasn't a lot in this chapter that I found particularly interesting.  This happens to be the first quote that I flagged in my reading, and I happen to agree greatly with it.  Every generation, or era if you will, is defined by something.  When we think of the 60s or the 80s, we think of music and fashion trends.  Kids in my generation are always reminiscing about the 90s, and how everything is just not quite the same.  In ten years, the generation after mine will be doing the same.  It's a trend that never changes, and what we grow up with defines how we see the world.  90s kids will always complain that TV today is awful in comparison to what we grew up with.  I'm sure that older generations could say the same thing about my generation's taste in fashion or music.  The current generation will undoubtedly be defined by their use of social media or something of the sort.

Digital Natives

The concept of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants is an interesting one to me.  I had never heard that terminology before.  To me, this is actually a really good metaphor for what is occurring in our Digital Age.  I feel as though I am a Digital Native.  I was born near the start of technology taking off (or at least it feels that way).  I remember life without the Internet and Cell Phones.  I actually remember when we first hooked our computer up to the Internet, and of course it was the painfully slow Dial-Up of the past.  But because I was at the beginning of the era, I grew up with technology, and so I'm really good at working with it.  My Mom, on the other hand, is far from the Digital Age and has difficulty even checking her email most of the time.  So, where I would be a Digital Native, she is most definitely a Digital Immigrant.  Unfortunately, unlike some, she has not quite integrated, and maybe she never will.  My Grandmother certainly won't.  I don't feel like my thinking on this and how people think, learn, and socialize has really changed, because I'm still a "young person" in my own right.  I might understand the concepts just a little bit better, but I've not seen a revolutionary change in my thinking.

The Digital Generation

I don't know that this is much of a "visual" metaphor, as it is a quote, but I felt like it hit on what I've been talking about in this blog post, and sometimes I think words are the best way to go.  This quote, to me, is the definition of a Digital Native, and the Digital Age we live in.  Kids today aren't just surfing the web or chatting or playing games, but they're also creating, which is the point.  Growing up with technology means that kids today not only know how to use that technology, but they're also improving it and creating their own things, whether it's videos or games or even webpages.  They're creating.