This week I have been thinking quite a bit about the difference between the old and new literacies. I'm working on a scavenger hunt on the subject. What I have been noticing, specifically, is that process of doing research in the "new literacies" can be overwhelming. As I locate new articles about my topic, I am confronted with links that take me to new articles, with new links, that take me... well, you get the picture. It is so easy to get off on tangents or to lose track of your research objectives. I wonder about the way "technology natives" think and about how much work it is for us immigrants to try to think as they do. Will we ever really learn to think as they do?
I used to wonder why some schools seem to resist bringing in technology. But now I know it is not as simple as as bringing in the equipment. There obviously needs to be a technology specialist to keep the hardware running. However, that is only a piece of the puzzle. There also needs to be support for those of us immigrants who forget our passwords, get confused with the non-linear environment, and get overwhelmed with the vocabulary. In short, schools need to have the resources to teach teachers the new literacies -- not just the kids.
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I can't believe that you were in one of my online classes! Do 'see me in perosn' so that I can make a connection...I've stopped doing the total online classes having missed the personal interaction and feeling that I don't have the self-discipline to do the classes justice. The hybrid courses seem to work better for me. However, if students are really interested in total online classes, I'm willing to give them another try. What do you think?
It will take some time and effort to think like a "technology native." The district I work in has a town-wide goal of the integration of technology into the classroom. We've had at least 2 years of in-services on the use of technology. And although I've been introduced to various ways to use technology, I am by no means an expert. I filter it in little by little as I learn and sometimes I learn along with my students. We should not be aggressive in our use but careful. We can still provide meaningful technological experiences for our students, even if we start small. And most importantly, share with your colleagues what works to save time!
I agree with you that new literacies can be overwhelming. Researching topics and even some of the scavenger hunts transported me to places in cyberspace without any idea of how I got there. Then, I lost direction of what I was looking for. I had to write my thoughts down with a traditional pencil and paper to keep myself organized. I suppose we are still learning to balance the old and new literacies.
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