http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn0_H-kvxkU&feature=player_embedded
Literacy to me is the ability to decode words, find meaning of words, and relate words to the rest of the world. Literacy can come from the people around you, your environment, and the text that you read.
Do I believe that Literacy in the 21st Century is changing? Yes.- Well, to an extent. After viewing this video, I believe that literacy in the 21st century means being able to know how to use the tools/words that we are given and apply those tools to the world around us. Technology has significantly increased the amount of literacy that students are exposed to. The video speaks about students today. Today's students are provided so much exposure to technology throughout the day- from using computers to smart boards to cell phones. Each of these expose students to different forms of print. Some of the print is now abbreviated or uses symbols, meaning that the Literacy that students read is represented differently than the literacy that everyone 20 years or older used when attending school. It is almost as if this literacy is a new written/ visual language.
The difficult part for teachers is finding a balance on using technology in their classrooms. I believe that students should practice conventional forms of literacy, but use technology as to further enhance what they learn. Some teachers feel as though students are overexposed to technology and that this may not be healthy for their long-term well being. To some extent, I do agree with this. I feel as though students should partake in hands- on, physical, and technological activities throughout the day. Students are constantly being exposed to new technology and information, but they do not always know what to do with the information that they receive. I agree that teachers must attend training sessions about the technology so that they know how it works and how the technology can be readily available for students to learn and explore. I also believe that teachers should be willing to learn from the students about these new technologies. If a student presents the teacher with an idea that may make learning more engaging, the teacher should consider what the student says and decide how it would be incorporated into their lessons.
Although literacy and technology is progressing, students must understand the basic fundamentals of literacy before being able to understand. comprehend technologically literate world around them.
