this thought came up during 650 this morning when we designed lesson plans for re/mediation. our group focused on technology's affect on language. as we considered how we can teach our students about the impact of technology on writing. the thing we were going for is the students to realize that technology is so deeply ingrained in writing that they MUST think of them together and in relation to one another. from the invention of the hammer and chisel in the caveman days to gutenberg's printing press to word processing, it all affects not just what we write about, but also the way we write.
to really drive the point home, we planned two activities for two class periods that would require the students to write two short research papers; one using no technology beyond printed media and pens, and the other using only electronic sources and computers.
i think as educators, besides just using technology in our classrooms, we should help students to realize the technology around them. they've been born into a world so fast-paced and inundated with gadgets and such, that they take it for granted. helping them to think about it also helps them realize how much it affects the way they think and learn.
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3 comments:
Liz Kolb said...
Hi Larry
Here is a link to a Learner video
Writing in the 21st Century Make sure you select workshop video #8
that speaks directly to your point about "digital literacy" being part of literacy in today's society. You may find it useful. They may ask you to register before viewing (it is free).
Larry - I 100% agree with you and I really like your idea of helping students to gain some perspective on the technologically savvy world around them. Our future students are going to have no idea what life without computers are like - and I think it is our responsibility to remind them of where we've come from, how and WHY this technology has been developed, and the purposes for using it in the field of education. Having the students do research projects related to technology development, or asking them to do a writing project "technology-free" might be a really effective teaching tool. thanks for your thoughts --
Emily
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