The picture of the girls at Eagle Rock is of my daughter and my niece -- both six years old. My daughter was using a computer mouse before she could talk, playing games on toddler software. Now she has her own email, surfs the web using yahooligans, and has a library of her own software and a gameboy. In contrast, my niece, has been "protected" from the electronic world by her father (my brother), who, ironically, has built his own career on the cutting edge of technology. When asked about the absence of computers (as well electronic toys and TV) in my niece's life, my brother will say that "technology interferes with literacy".
As I've read more about the new literacies, I've been thinking a lot about my niece, and my brother's point of view. Does the use of the new literacies interfere with the old literacies (ie. reading and writing)? Without the distractions of technology, my niece has become a prolific reader. Yet, what will happen when she hits middle school? Will she struggle to catch up in academic technologies; will she be left out socially because she can't IM or even e-mail? I love seeing my own daughter curled up with a good book, but it's also exciting to see her learn about the world through Google Earth or Reader Rabbit. As I compare the two girls, I also see the difference in learning strategies. One girl learns in the linear, methodical world of books. The other asks questions and then explores concepts in a more open ended approach. This shows me a clear example of how technology natives vs. immigrants approach learning. As a teacher, I think we must recognize that we have natives and immigrants in our classrooms. Just as we know there are different "intelligences", we must also recognize that the approach our students take in learning is also affected by their experiences with technology.
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2 comments:
This digital divide is self-imposed (or family, in this case). If your neice is in a school like the ones I see in West Hartford, she'll be using technology in kindergarten! She'll catch up in its use but will she be a technology native with the same skills, attitudes and fearless approach to technology as her peers? Given the social structure which exists and family can't control, is she perhaps much more aware of technology that her family perceives? Can she be totally sheltered from technology as much as her parents would like that to be the case?
I think the impact of technology is so pervasive and her affected the very way we learn that to say it interferes with literacy is to fail to grasp that technology and literacy go hand-in-hand just as books and literacy did in the past.
The most current issue of Time magazine has an interview with Bill Gates who offers his views on the possible future of books and technology. It's well worth examining this man's perspective!
My niece of 3 years old is already engaged in "reading." She loves to lay on the floor, curl up in bed, or hide under the kitchen table with a good book. It is such a joy to see and I am so proud of her. These are the early signs of reading. Some of my best memories as child are curling up with a book. I still do it. I hope that even with technology today as a learning resource, that our students and family members don't lose sight of the importance and joys of turning the pages in a book (the old literacies).
But let's be grateful that those little ones of ours already love to read! With a balance of the old and new literacies, the possibilites are endless!
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