Weekly Reading #9

"Just as it is important for students to learn critical literacy skills when it comes to accessing, understanding, and synthesising information, it is equally important to learn how to carefully craft our words to adequately
meet our purposes."

When dealing with any type of social networking site, it is important to carefully craft our words to adequately meet our purposes. Irony, sarcasm and sincerity do not often translate well in text. The true intention of a post may be lost or misinterpreted by others. I see this often on FaceBook.

The Internet can offer an anonymous platform for people. People often use this platform to express opinions that are not mainstream However, when dealing with classroom type social networking, students and teachers need to respect the beliefs and opinions of others. "Think before you speak" and "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" definitely come to mind when dealing with social media.

100 Inspiring Ways to Use Social Media in the Classroom provides examples of how to use social media within a classroom. Some of the ideas are really interesting. I thought this is a great starting place to get ideas. Some of the ideas include: "Tweeting famous conversations" - for example, between Romeo and Juliet."Collaborate with professionals" via Skype, for example. Additionally, it includes several social media tools for students - bil.ly, TwitPic, QuoteURL, CiteMe, Class Notes, etc.

1. What makes a literacy practice a "new literacy"?

According to the article, new literacies are not merely technical or 'operational' competencies but are situated within a new mindset about knowledge.

2. How does might Citizen Journalism support the development of "new literacies"?

Locating and organizing online information is a new literacy. Using sites such as TrackStar allow for teachers to provide students annotations. Additionally, students can perform website validation. These skills enable them to search and evaluate information online more efficiently.

3. What is critical literacy and how does your Citizen Journalism project encourage critical literacy? How might you change your project to encourage critical literacy?

A critical literacy framework view discourse, including information, through a political, social and economic lens.(Fabos, 2004; Kapitzke, 2003; Lankshear & McClaren, 1993). Critical literacy is incorporated into the Citizen Journalism project by enabling students to examine a issues within their community.

4. What problems may arise when students use Web 2.0 tools for learning in school and how might teachers capitalize on these opportunities to promote information literacy?

Students must be aware of social, political and economic differences and sensitivies when posting information online. They need to be responsible and ethical when posting information. Additionally, they need to carefully craft their words to fit the information they need to get across.

References:
Asselin, M. & Moayeri, M. (2011). Practical Strategies: The Participatory Classroom: Web 2.0 in the Classroom. Literacy Learning: The Middle Years 19(2).http://ictandliteracy.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/practical-strategies.pdf