Instant Literacy (Just Add Technology)

By January 31, 2016 BlogPost No Comments
literacyapps

While reading Dennis Baron’s article entitled “From Pencils to Pixels:The Stages of Literacy Theory” there was a quote that stood out due to its personal relevance in my educational past, present, and future. Baron discusses the way that technology (specifically, the computer) is taking over the way we use literacy. Policey makers and other government officials are not immune to the draw of this instant way to create, learn, and share literary concepts as Baron exhibits by stating “The Governor of Illinois thinks that hooking up every school classroom to the Web will eliminate illiteracy”. Before reading this article I had never quite observed just how steadily technology was working it’s way into the classroom throughout my academic career.

I cannot recall using technology or even knowing what a computer was before first grade, but during elementary school there were mandatory technology classes and weekly online articles assigned to read. In high school it was movie projects, academic profiles, even college applications were online. Now, most of my courses revolve around my laptop (Exhibit A: these blog posts).

For those of you who do not spend endless hours a week with toddlers (as I do) you may not be aware of just how technologically savvy these kids are nowadays. My four year old sister has apps to sing her the alphabet and teach her how to spell where our generation more fondly recalls flashcards. Chrome Books have also become the medium of teaching for our local middle school, replacing language teachers need to lecture or assign drill material.

Baron accurately captures that there are drawbacks and benefits to this new age of literacy, but even the pencil-which we see as harmless and innovative today- was surrounded by its own shroud of controversy when it first came about. Whether it be loosing your laptop (and essentially your life) on the CTA or being able to cut time adding footnotes to a paper, technology is shaping the way we interact with literacy.

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