For this module, I have created a graphic to demonstrate my understanding of the components of Digital Literacy. Through my graphic and document, I define the components, explain how they are related, and give examples of how these literacies are being used in our classrooms today. I also provide a couple of resources that you may find beneficial. Please see the link and document below.
Mod-4-Graphic
W531 - Graphic Presentation Document
Renna Waalkens
Description of Graphic:
My graphic represents the three components of literacy that I believe are the most essential. Media, Digital, and Social Media Literacies appear to drive the other literacies at the bottom of my graphic. Without these three main literacies, in my opinion, there would be no need for the others. While the four literacies listed at the bottom of my graphic are important, I believe they are supporting what the three main literacies in my graphic are trying to demonstrate.
Terms defined:
Media Literacy - This term means being able to evaluate and create ways of sharing information through technology. In our increasing world of technology, being literate includes using technology as a main source of communication and as a way to gather and share information.
Digital Literacy – This term includes reading and interpreting media and data through technology. A person must be able to locate information, use and evaluate it, while also having the ability to create and add new information.
Social Media Literacy – This term includes communicating with appropriate responses and evaluating social interactions during technology usage.
21st Century Literacy – This term is defined as knowing how to use a variety of technology tools. It includes working with other people to find ways to share new information through technology.
Computer Literacy – Having basic computer skills defines this term.
Information Literacy – This term is defined as locating and evaluating technology-based information to see if it is what you needed.
Visual Literacy – This term means understanding information presented through images/pictures and having the ability to use this information to communicate and share with others.
Relationship between terms:
Media, Digital, and Social Media Literacies are what I feel we should be pushing for our schools to incorporate into their curriculums. Our students need these tools to be competitive and effective in our world with the continued increase in technology. These terms are closely related as they expect a person to evaluate, interpret, and communicate information gained through technology. I feel these three literacies overlap in their purpose relating to education.
21st Century, Information, Computer, and Visual Literacies all support the Media, Digital, and Social Media Literacies. I feel that with these four literacies being learned by students, it would assist as we integrate more technology into our curriculums.
Resources to Support Educators:
This resource discusses the importance of the new literacies in our curriculums, but even more so, focuses on training teachers how to incorporate the literacies. The article also discussed equal access to technology, which I know is something we all face as educators. Again, I truly feel it goes back to time being designated for all of our grade level material. It really makes incorporating technology difficult for classroom teachers with all of the testing demands from our state.
This article is just inspiring to me as a teacher. I recently had students complete a research project about Native Americans in our Writing block. We created a poster book together. It turned out with great writing, researched and printed pictures to support the research, and students were able to research their assigned topic using the computer. We also used several library books to gather information as well. They loved every minute of this project. After reading this article and seeing examples of what other students/teachers have done with their classes, I can see the possibilities for our next research writing report. I am sure the students would love it even more.
How Literacies are being used in Classrooms (Examples):
In my own experience as a teacher, I feel the only literacy used on a weekly basis is the Computer Literacy. Our school has two computer labs which allows everyone at least one visit per week. During that hour block of time we are expected to work on Acuity lessons so students will be familiar with the ISTEP format on the computers. We are also doing a school-wide computer based math program called First in Math, so we allow students to work on that site for a short period of time as well. This doesn’t leave much time for anything else. I have had my own class do research on what we are studying in Social Studies and Science and my writing class also has done some research on the computers so the very basic skills are being used. With all of our confined blocks of time be allotted to the various subjects, I don’t know when there would be more time for whole class instruction or projects. I wish I had the answer to this.
Summary Paragraph:
Learning about new literacies really opens my eyes to what we do have in place in our schools’ curriculums. Teachers seem to know what the basics are for using computers, but I know that I lack the ability or skills myself to effectively utilize the short time I have with computers each day or week. Doing basic research or typing seem to be common areas schools incorporate, but beyond that is where we will continue to fall further behind within our curriculums.
