Literacy: out with the old, in with the new?

The question is posed: Does technology help or harm literacy? First, we have to define literacy. Is it still simply the ability to read and write? According to Merriam-Webster, yes it is. Although this would be considered the most standard and simplistic definition of literacy I would have to say that this definition is continually evolving as new technologies are introduced. I liked this expanded definition of literacy that I read on Wikipedia that says: 

Literacy refers to the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently, and think critically about the written word. Visual literacy includes in addition the ability to understand all forms of communication, be it body language, pictures, maps, or video. Evolving definitions of literacy often include all the symbol systems relevant to a particular community. Literacy encompasses a complex set of abilities to understand and use the dominant symbol systems of a culture for personal and community development. In a technological society, the concept of literacy is expanding to include the media and electronic text, in addition to alphabetic and number systems. These abilities vary in different social and cultural contexts according to need and demand.

So then, is it out with the old, in with the new? I think not! It is the old combined with the new that creates the foundation on which to build the 21^st century skills for ALL students. Yes, teacher facilitated basic phonics instruction along with modeling and practice is still best practice but why not add a web 2.0 tool and/or an ipad app to engage the student in the practice of newly acquired phonics skills? From my own personal experience with a group of 3^rd grade struggling readers using Storybird (an online digital story telling tool) technology proves to be a beneficial and yes, helpful tool for the development of literacy. Technology provides limitless opportunities to investigate and learn, explore and create, reflect and communicate in ways that the paper and pencil never will.

NYT Article vs. HASTAC "pointed response"

In the process of searching and reading for my research paper focused on the use of ipads in the instruction of reading, I came across a somewhat “heated” discourse between a published New York Times article http://hastac.org/blogs/cathy-davidson/pointed-response-nyt-article-ipads-schools that apperently celebrated a Long Island High School’s distribution of ipads to a group of humanities students and teachers in January of 2011 and a “pointed response” to that article by HASTAC (Humanities, Arts, Science, and Technology Advanced Collaboratory http://hastac.org/blogs/cathy-davidson/pointed-response-nyt-article-ipads-schools ). Cathy Davidson of HASTAC stated, “If you change the technology but not the method of learning, then you are throwing bad money after bad practice.” WHAT??? Is what I asked myself. She also made some comment about ipads as “babysitters” and I just think that this is WAY too extreme. I think that there is much more good than bad to come out of students’ access to digital learning such as the use of ipads in the classroom. What Davidson failed to consider is that the mere presence of the technology in the classroom will inevitably change the method of learning, just by being there. Talk about collaboration, when facilitated effectively teachers and students will learn from each other. Shame on you HASTAC for being so unjustly critical of a school’s efforts to “bridge the gap” between the students who were “born to be wired” and the teachers who are trying to make connections with them.

LiveBinder "ipads in schools"

Check out this LiveBinder I found on the Cybraryman's website! It is phenomenal! Completely LOADED with resources...EVERYTHING ipad! Thanks Vicki for sharing the Cybraryman's website :)

iPads in Schools

No longer teaching as we know it

The use of technology in the process of teaching is a scary thing especially when the students we are "teaching" know more about the tools than we do. I am covinced that WE HAVE TO CHANGE in order to reach the students in our classrooms. It is a completely different way of doing things. It is no longer teaching as we know/knew it...

Old Technology "Dump"

Is there such a thing as a "dump" for old technology? What do you do with your old technology? When I can, I get $ for old technology like cell phone trade ins :) T-Mobile has given me $200. for old cell phones on two separate occasions when I have gotten an upgrade. I noticed a box at Best Buy where you can "dump" small stuff inside the store but I don't really know where to take desktop computers when they are no longer any good to anyone. Last summer we took one to the landfill where they did have a special pile for electronics but I was thinking that there must be a better more earth friendly way to dispose of old technology. Another time we gave old monitors and a desktop to the Salvation Army. I think they have people that can restore them and then sell them but I'm not sure about that but that is what I've have done with things that we no longer want/need. If there are better ways to "dump" old technology, I think that they really should be better advertised.

Techno Lingo

What exactly does Web 2.0 mean? Was there a Web 1.0 before there was a Web 2.0? Is there a Web 3.0? Then I thought of YouTube because YouTube ROCKS! And I found this explanation of Web 1.0 vs. Web 2.0: So basically it’s about collaboration; interactive connecting and sharing online. Don’t you just LOVE YouTube! Anything and everything simplified.

Class Dojo

http://www.classdojo.com/ I haven’t actually used it myself but I have seen this web tool in action in a 4th & 5th grade classroom so far. I think it is a GREAT classroom management tool for teachers! When the teacher is meeting with small groups or one-on-one with students and the rest of the class is working in groups or individually on some kind of connected practice activity and they get to loud, “out of hand,” or just off task the teacher can signal the students without saying a word or disrupting the flow of instruction that is taking place at the small group table. The teacher can send alerts/signals/"points" to the class from a desktop, laptop, or ipad to let the students know that they are off task or that they are doing well. There are other features like behavior reports you can print out or email to parents and other “stuff” too. Check out the tutorial below for more info…

Time well spent.

I realize that this whole “head first” emersion into technology along with additional course work and requirements and all the new "stuff" I am leaning takes up A LOT of time, time that most days I don’t really have. But in reflecting and weighing the pros and cons of it all I have to say that although it can be extremely frustrating (sometimes to the point of tears) the countless hours I have spent sitting at my dining room table in front of a laptop, I have learned so much about a lot of different resources that I otherwise would have NEVER sought out on my own. Although I may not be super good at any one thing I now have a repertoire of many different resources that I know something about and can share with others when the topic and/or opportunity arises. If I am going to be an administrator who models what I expect, I think that I will have to do this kind of learning. I will need to know about the things that I want teachers and students to use and if I don’t try to learn it on my own, whether it’s a course requirement or a personal inquiry, I may never learn it at all and that would make me a hypocrite. I know that I will have to make time to learn the things that I need to know to make my school a better place and those things I am sure will have a lot to do with advancements in technology and how they are best utilized in my building. Therefore, I have to admit that although this is all very time consuming, it is without a doubt, time well spent.

Resistance by teachers

I think that any, if not all, of the resistance to using technology has to do with one thing…change. Everyone on some level is resistant to change, afraid of the unknown, not to mention the time it takes to learn something new (I can say that based on personal experience :)) but I am happy to report that I am not resistant! Maybe that is because all of this is part of my master’s program. This is a course I have to take so I am forced to learn about the integration of technology if I want to pass the class, or maybe it is the confidence that Mrs. Sullivan has placed on us to “just do it” like we know how :) either way I am grateful that I am learning so much because I don’t think that I would have done this on my own, which leads me into the “dealing with teachers who may be resistant to using technology in the classroom.” I found this YouTube clip (while searching for something else) that does a pretty good job of expressing first the frustrations of technology and then the benefits of change and ways to “minimize resistance” The creator shares five ways to minimize resistance: 1) Properly communicate why change is necessary 2) Educate them about new products 3) Patiently demonstrate (this is my personal favorite because we can’t ask other people to do what we don’t do/use ourselves…model what you expect!) 4) Offer support, being eager to help without hurting feelings :) 5) Offer incentives by demonstrating the benefits It’s all about UNDERSTANDING and COMMUNICATION! Watch the clip…

YouTube ROCKS!

I am convinced that You Tube is absolutely AWESOME! I believe that whatever it is that you need to know or how to do you can find a tutorial on You Tube! The other day I was trying and trying to do a mail merge to create some mailing labels. I was working in Word trying to use an Excel spreadsheet with the contacts already entered. First I tried it on my own, then I clicked on Microsoft HELP button, read through the tutorial and then tried and tried again and finally after about 45 minutes I decided to check You Tube for a tutorial and sure enough, there it was! It took me step by step through the process and I had my labels in hand in a matter of minutes. Of course I "liked" the clip and left a comment thanking the creator :) From now on when I am presented with an unfamiliar task I'm going to You Tube first! I LOVE IT!