Many educators believe that with the growth of media and information technology, media literacy is just as important as – or even more important than – print literacy (that is, learning to read and write).
There are many pros and cons about ITC and print literacy.
The cons portion of the growth of media and technology are as followed:
1. writing skills are not fully developed
2. computer software checks for spelling and grammatical errors
a. students are not thinking for themselves
3. students’ feel useless without their computers
a. students become disabled
4. not able to read and write fluently
a. students cannot recognize letters or words
5. not able to sign their name in cursive
a. students do not develop writing in cursive
6. not able to learn to write or read cursive
The pros portion of the growth of media and technology are as followed:
1. thoughts are complete
a. students can change information once typed
2. typing is more fluent and easier
a. writing takes longer because student has to make writing legible
3. more confident
a. spell check and grammar is available in word
b. support is given for other task
4. motivation
a. can write their thoughts down as they come in their minds
5. only way many students learn
a. students use high technology devices to learn
i. they are in a visual sense of learning
ii. their brains process information quickly in this manner
6. edit papers more easily
a. rough drafts can be easily fixed if saved
What is your position on the relative importance of the two “literacies”?
The two literacies must be joint together in order for them to work properly and effectively. Many students need enhanced visual devices in order to learn. As teachers we were taught to provide as many examples and different ways of bringing the lessons alive, this is an appropriate way to bring in material and resources that would help them with their learning.
What information from this chapter helps support your position?
The NCTE/IRA Standards for English/Language Arts # 4 & # 12 are the incorporating standards that provide information that supports my reason explanation of needing the old literacy and new literacy. The old literacy is the basic reading books and writing and viewing instruction in a two dimensional way. Now as we bring in the new literacy it brings a new three dimensional view. It provides us the ability to apply all computer based software and programs into our lessons. As we note Standard 4, it states: students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes. Also Standard 12, it states: students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purpose.
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I like how you have listed the pros and the cons.
ReplyDeleteI agree that current technology has taken a toll on spelling. Personally I am not big on teaching cursive writing. I feel it is more important to teach proper keyboarding skills. Students today are not interacting with as much “good” literature as they once did independently. Therefore, we as teachers have a greater responsibility to expose students to good literature and help them develop vocabulary skills.
Technology does make it easier to correct mistakes. Editing papers is easier. Saving work and not losing it is also easier (bar any technical difficulty). Students can’t say, “The dog ate my homework”. Students are also able to tap into multisensory learning through the use of technology.
I agree that the two literacies are joined together. Technology does add a new dimension to learning. Students are more responsible for their own learning.
I also like the list of pros and cons. I agree with you on the fact that both forms of literacy is necessary for students to be successful. We have to accommodate for the various areas of learning and using media print will cover the visual learner. I also agree with the fact that students need to learn how to spell and spelling is being lost in our schools. I have noticed a decline in spelling over the past couple of years with my students who are paraphrasing and abbreviating words because of texting. I use spell check almost everyday and it is a useful tool, however you must be close to the word in order for it to work. The other issue is fluency and I completely agree with you.
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