a new literacies reader: Chapters 1 and 2

As educators we will face new challenges with digital literacies with more and more technology filtering into our schools and with more and more children learning technology at earlier ages.  "In a fundamental way it raises discussions about  what it means to be able to "read and "write" as part of our cultural developments today, understood as interpretation of and access to information and how we communicate and express ourselves (Lankshear and Knobel, 2013).

The chapters in the Lankshear and Knobel text were interesting because they gave real educational situations of digital literacy occurred nationally in different settings from educators. It also mentioned many different challenges these educators faced while teaching in different environments.  What struck me the most was to hear how long  digital literacy is being used in certain areas of the world, such as Norway. The chapters were also very specific in naming websites used in the creation of specific digital media projects.  The students in the projects seemed to be young adults.  Some had issues with writing while others consisted of students who were computer savvy able to incorporate and manipulate all forms of digital literacy, including remixing. What I found interesting were two examples, the project from Norway concerning exploration and the project in Brooklyn concerning the student A'idah.

I found the two projects to be amazingly effective because they enhanced the learning of these students and empowered them along with the educators.  In A'idah's case the student was giving the option to blog and it took off from there.  It helped her with her writing and it gave her an audience of readers.  The teacher was able to gain a  deeper insight into her work and the student was able to express more quickly with her thoughts instead of writing them on paper. I think that by blogging it will make her more willing to write and since she has gained an audience of readers it will encourage her to read more.

As for the other case, the "Antarctica project"  I thought this was an amazing technology project because it allowed students from other countries to track two explorers through a database as they traveled to Antarctica.  Learning about another country through the internet, pictures, sound, email and chatting versus  a book provided an exciting trip.  Students in traveled to another continent without leaving the classroom while others created a website from gathered information.  This shows how advanced Norway is in adapting technology and using it by "integrating different modalities and knowledge domains in the making of the website and following the expedition" (Lankshear and Knobel, 2013).

Lankshear, C. & Knobel, M. (2013). a new literacies reader. New York:Peter Lang.