The Explosion of New Literacies

Explosion of digital media in today's society

New literacies are encroaching on the demands of the  educational system. With the explosion of social media, students are being bombarded by information via the Internet. Most students have experience with digital media. Therefore, teachers must utilize technology to educate students in nonlinear text.  By integrating content areas with the Internet, students will develop into more critical and analytical students.  They will be challenged to make decisions, evaluate text, and determine valid sources while reading and writing.

Students need to develop new literacy skills since the Internet involves reading on-line and comprehending information.   Students must decipher valid information and critically evaluate it. Audience, format, and purpose are factors the writer/reader must take into consideration when using the Internet (Coiro, J. 2003).  Students need the skills to be tech-savvy in order to be successful in the world.



 

According to the National Educational Technology Standards for Students, the expectation for the student is to use their schema and develop the information gained from digital media. Digital media will enable students to become more innovative and creative in their thinking.  Students will become more adept at communicating and collaborating with others.  They will have to learn to navigate the web to find sources. Once they locate sources, students will need to analyze and critique them. Furthermore, students will have the flexibility to learn new information and apply it since the web is constantly changing.  NETS for Students  NETS for students

National Educational Technology For Teachers expects teachers to become better informed and educated in digital age technology. This new responsibility means professional development for teachers in technology. The demands of the global job market mandate that students are to have the expertise in reading and communicating in nonlinear text.  Teachers, who gain this technological expertise, will be able to promote a richer learning environment. As a result, students will have the learning experiences to develop into responsible, productive citizens. NETS for teachers
The teachers must ensure there is a clear cut purpose designed for the students when reading online and the process that must occur should involve the student making judgments about what is relevant or irrelevant about the information learned.  As a result, students will evolve into more analytical and critical thinkers.  In third grade, students study the explorers, Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, and Jacques Cartier. Students can use the Internet to research one of the explorers. Students will be given various links to read and then discuss with the class the variation in stories about the explorer’s lives, accomplishments, and other people’s perception of the various explorers.

In technologically advanced classrooms, students will have ample time to develop new literacies.  Professional development for teachers will provide educators with the skills to promote richer classroom environments for students. Students will be given opportunities to read, explore and evaluate the web so they can develop their skills for the digital age.

                                              References
 

Coiro, J., (2003, Feb.). Reading comprehension on the internet: Expanding our understanding of
    
     reading comprehension to encompass new literacies. The Reading Teacher. 56(6)
    
     http://www.readingonline.org

Leu, D., Leu, D.D., Coiro, J.(2009) Teaching with the Internet K-12: New Literacies New Times

     http: www.sp.uconn.edu/~dj/eu/fourth/one.ht

Leu, D. J., O'Bryne, W.I., Zawilinski, L.J., McVerry, J.G., Everett-Cacopardo, H. (2009).

     Expanding the new literacies converation. Educational Researcher. 38 (4). 264-269
   
     http://ctserv.org/ssr/downloads/eu-newlit.pdf