New Literacies: 21st Century Learner

Graph Description:

 21^st century students won’t be able to be successful unless teachers are going to provide them the knowledge they need to be literate in our changing digital world.  Howard Rheingold states, “Whether digital media will be beneficial or destructive in the long run doesn’t depend on the technologies, but on the literacy of those who use them. (2008, October) It’s up to educators to provide these 21^st century students with the tools to be able to analyze and interpret information they are retrieving from computers or other digital technologies.  Through understanding how to critically analyze different messages whether it be from media literacy, visual literacy or digital literacy, students can develop skills needed to develop creative thinking skills in making their own media messages and develop solutions to problems. By combining the skills of students understanding what they are reading and how things work, they will be a more successful 21^st learner.  Well informed students can use social media as a means of a collaborative learning tool than just a fun tool. 

My 21^st graph illustrates this as I feel that for the 21^st century student to be successful they have to be literate in all of literacies highlighted in orange. Beginning with the basic computer skills, to be able to break down thoughtful information to be able to use this learning experience to be successful in media, visual, digital, and social literacies.  To sustain a successful student in this 21^st century digital world, one needs to constantly keep up with new and improved technologies and new literacies and be willing to constantly keep up with the changes.

 

Definitions:

Digital Literacy- the ability to locate, organize, understand, evaluate and create information using digital technologies such as computers, ipads, mobile phones, etc.

Media Literacy- the ability to analyze, evaluate, and understand multiple media modes.

Information Literacy-  to be able to identify, evaluate, and effectively use information to solve problems.

Visual Literacy – the ability to interpret and analyze information in an image and being able to create meaning through images.

Computer Literacy- knowing how computers and related technology work, and operate multiple computer programs.

Social Media Literacy- being able to interpret, create, and understand how to use online social forums.

Classroom Use:

 Digital Literacy- In a US History class, students have to use multiple web sites to construct a     family heritage tree. Mapping, journals, etc.

Media Literacy- In World History class, students will need to view footage of WWII concentration camps and Japanese camps and compare and contrast the differences and similarities.

Information Literacy-  Have students in World Geography collect information for climate change in last 50 years and determining if “Global Warming” is fact or myth.

Visual Literacy – Have students in US History create a visual presentation rather it be poster board or computer based image to describe the injustices that lead to the Revolutionary War.

Computer Literacy- Students in World and US History have to keep a weekly journal of their daily life.  They can use different writing programs or social media to keep track of their activities.

Summary:

Being out of the classroom for 12 years, I chose the below articles for this graph project because they address the importance of teachers getting on board on teaching new literacies to students.  If teachers as myself are not going to take the initiative to change with the new digital times we are going to leave more students behind than ever before.  All these new literacies need to be embraced and as Howard Rheingold states, “Just as learning the alphabet requires further education before a literate person can compose a coherent argument, learning the skills, of effective social media use requires an education that today’s institutions and teachers are ill-prepared to provide” (2008,October 22)  The New Literacies article touches on the same topic and how our schools have done little to incorporate the new literacies in our classrooms.  Again to have a successful 21^st student, we as educators have to keep up with the changing times and keep our students informed to better use these technologies to their advantage and success.

References:
 

 Rheingold, H. (2008, October 22). Writing, Reading, and Social Media Literacy. Retrieved from http://blogs.hbr.org/now-new-next/2008/10/the-importance-of-social-media.html
 

 

Miners , Z. & Pascopella , A. (2007, 10). The new literacies:Students are immersed in 21st century "new literacy" technologies, but are schools preparing them for the future? DA District Administrations