Historically, literacy dealt with being able to reading with understanding and fluency, writing letters while progressing to words and the sentences using correct syntax, and write a composition to sway the reader to compare, contrast, debate and so much more (Barish, 2002).
That is no longer the case in today’s society, original literacy has now also come to include manipulating media. Students must now be able to learn to use computers, apply software applications, and strategically show mastery of concept mandated by state standards for the appropriate grade level. Technology is continuously changing and always on the move; therefore, educators must help children to become proficient in the area of technology to be able to advance in the future employment market. Students need to be taught concepts regarding media technology and be given the tools to show understanding of the concepts in the real world such as designing and/or updating: web pages, blogs, and the ability to search as they research online for information for projects that are assigned by educators. Teachers much have access to resources while helping children (Media For Advanced Technology in Education-University of Oregon, 2007).
Most students today spend a vast amount of time using technology on a daily basis and are becoming more cognicent of technology because they are using ipod, advanced cell phones with the ability to surf the web and a great deal more; therefore, educators must teach and entice those same children to stretch beyond their comfort zone with technology to get ready. This is to facilitate an easier transition into a highly technological field of employment and society in the future. Students are offered programs to utilize other concepts in their education such as brainstorming programs to apply what they are learning on higher order level of thinking (SlideShare, 2009).
Students must be taught hat they be active in their own learning and to participate in their own learn; whereby, allowing students to take possession of and responsibility for their own learn (Wesch, 2009).
Considering the quote above, what exactly does it mean to be literate in today’s society? How are we, as educators, going to ensure the students we are sending out into the world have an understanding of the messages they are receiving as well as what messages are being sent to others as they create new media and communicate with the world around them?
Sources
Center for Advanced Technology in Education-University of Oregon (2007) Media
Literacy Inline Project. Received on October 24, 2009 from
http://interact.uoregon.edu/medialit/mlr/home/
SlideShare. (2009) Media Literacy Video Brainstorm. Received on October 24, 2009
from http://www.clideshare.net/Sylct/media-Literacy-video-brainstorm
Wesch, Prof. (2009) Participatory Media Literacy: Why it Matters. Received on
October 25, 2009 from http://mediatedcultures.net/ksidigg/?p=192
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