I feel like as a young student I was always exposed to new technology. We had chalkboards, then whiteboards and now SmartBoards.Teachers were constantly exposing me to new kinds of technology that enhanced learning and made it even easier. Now, I feel like students are often exposing teachers to new forms of technology that better help their learning. This isn’t saying that teachers are stuck in the chalkboard era, but teachers are being exposed to new forms of technology that they do not have previous experience with. The students are born into the technology filled world where they already have that basis of knowledge of how to use a computer or an iPad and how that can help them learn. When being exposed to new forms of technology, we act cautiously because we do not know what to expect. Youth are born using said technology and are okay with trying everything even if they are wrong. Often I don’t think of this technological bridge between generations. I help my parents with technology and I never understand why they are not okay with just clicking buttons to see what they do, but they never had this as a kid. I grew up using technology all the time so of course I am less cautious when using it. It's not that they are afraid of technology, it is just that generational gap that restricts them from having the same confidence as I do with it. As a future elementary/middle years teacher, I think that teaching students about digital literacy is very important. At these ages students want to use technology, they get excited about it. With this excitement, they do not fully know how to filter real news and fake news. They do not fully understand that you cannot believe everything you see on the internet. I think it is important for students to not only understand that not everything is as it seems on the internet, but to also be able to begin to and ultimately fully understand the motivations people have behind posting fake news. It is important to understand what fake news is, how to identify it and how to identify the motivation, but another important aspect of teaching digital literacy is to teach students how to deal with that self conflict they have when their facts are not right. As discussed in the comic You’re not going to believe what I’m about to tell you, there are so many facts that we have deemed as correct our entire lives but in reality, they are actually false. It is hard to hold a fact near and dear to your heart and believe it to it’’s full extent and have someone prove this fact wrong. We all know it is easy to accept a fact that aligns with your worldview. Of course we want to believe what we like to hear. In the article It’s Easier To Call A Fact A Fact When It’s One You Like, Study Finds discusses this idea of how our personal beliefs and biases shape what we believe is true or false. So when teaching children about digital literacy, how can we teach them how to not be clouded by their personal judgement? It’s hard. I know I personally struggle with this. We love the consistency of these facts that we have been told were true our entire lives and when that is taken away from us it is hard to determine how to stand. We need to teach children how to identify this backfire effect that is discussed in the comic so that we are willing to have that internal fight, listen to other facts, and then ultimately change your opinion to what now best suits what you believe and the facts that are associated with it.
In the Grade 8 English Language Arts Curriculum, outcome CR8.5 says, “Listen critically to understand, gather information, follow directions, form an opinion, and analyze oral presentations for diverse opinions, presenter’s point of view, values, and biases, stereotypes, or prejudices.” When teaching about digital literacy it is important to have students understand and gather information to properly form an opinion with the presenter’s point of view, values, beliefs, biases, stereotypes, and prejudices in mind to ensure that they are giving and receiving the best possible information. Being digitally literate in this age is so important to help our students become the most knowledgeable and empathetic versions of themselves.
1 Comment
Hi Taylor,I loved reading your thoughts on Digital Literacy! I was there through chalkboards, whiteboards, and SMART boards as well, crazy how fast things change. It's crazy to think that they are consistently changing and will continue to change. Sometimes my students help me with technology just like you help your parents. Just let you said, I think it's important to teach and make students aware of fake news and how to create a digital citizenship. In my blog post for this assignment I talked about just having conversations with students surrounding digital citizenships. I found that they did so much for helping them understand areas of digital citizenship. Even if it's not full on lesson, I found it did so much in my classroom. Can't wait to see what you do in your classroom surrounding digital literacy! :)
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
|