Changing Literacies; Changing Pedagogy

Digital Literacies: Social Learning and Classroom Practices

Chapter 7: “They used the kinds of skills that they developed beyond the classroom, but used them in ways that fitted with dominant modes of teacher-directed and objective-driven learning” (Burnett, p.127).

This quote talks about student teachers and how they access themselves on their own technology skills. As teachers we need to use the skills that we use outside of the classroom to tweak them into skills that we can bring into the classroom to help our students learn in a different way. We need to use the skills that we already have and build upon them to help our classrooms bring in more technology for our students to learn.

Chapter 8: “Thirdly, issues of access and equity are vitally important” (Kerin, p.142).

When we are looking at teaching students about technology we need to consider what access they have to computers and technology at home. We need to make sure that every student is on the same level and that no one is being left behind when it comes to teaching technology skills. It is very important that we help our students become successful learners.

Chapter 9: “ On the one hand, educators are under great pressure to ensure that all students can compose conventional academic prose for standardized assessment” (Leander, p.160).

I completely agree with this text. I hate hearing and talking about standardized assessments when the school year begins. I feel that there is too much of an emphasis on standard assessments in school today rather than just helping students learn the different standards and objectives to help them become successful through school. Standardized assessments take up four weeks of school time when students could be working in the classes instead and preparing for the end of the school year exams. Last year, we had standardized assessments and then exams two weeks after. I had to start reviewing right after the finished with the Smarter Balance, which was hard because students thought it was too hard this year and very long.

After reading this book and seeing all of the different digital technologies that teachers could use, I would love to use Flickr, Blogger, and Wikipedia in my room. I would love to get my students more involved outside of the classroom and have a safe environment that we can collaborate with each other. Using these sources could help students with expressing their thoughts and opinions and even critiquing their fellow classmates as well (in a positive way). Being able to be more comfortable with these practices would help me to be able to teach my students the best practices to use them.

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