New Literacies

Traditionally, when we see hear the word literacy, we think of reading and writing. However, being fully literate in today’s society requires more. Over the past 20 years, technology has been improving at an exponential rate. The internet, smartphones, tablets, and social networks are technologies that many people use on a daily basis. The people using these technologies are not just working adults. More and more often, young children are using these technologies with regularity. Therefore, to be fully literate in today’s society, one must be literate in the ever changing technologies that become ubiquitous in our society. Extra responsibility is now placed on educators to be well versed in all of the current technologies as well as the new technologies that are on the horizon. Students that are surrounded by technology in their homes and outside worlds are not going to be engaged by a classroom and a teacher that is not technology friendly. Imagine walking into a classroom that had no electricity and was only lit by candlelight. As extreme as that example sounds, it is analogous to a modern student walking into a classroom that had no computers or SMART Boards. Technology is here to stay and it is the responsibility of teachers to ensure that our students are educated in an environment that fosters the development of the new literacies that are a requirement for being a productive member of society.