The Debate: The Myth of Digital Literacy
Sarah Ormon pointed me towards this TVO segment on Thursday evening.
It raises some very important points about education, literacy and new ways of learning. The panelists discuss the growing gap between how students can learn versus the age old methods that have been in schools for decades.
Is the gap unbridgeable? Find out by watching the video. Some key highlights are as follows:
- Literacy rates are on the INCREASE amongst youth and adults! Thanks to Harry Potter, Twilight and new media (graphic novels), more people are keen on reading and writing.
- Reading is more social today since people can connect and share views on what they are reading.
- Students are writing more than ever, but are they writing better? There is plenty of unseen writing going on. When the writing is more visible, it has the potential to be better.
- Ideas, knowledge and experience can be expressed beyond the written word through videos, photos and simulations.
- Connectivity and life experiences need to be incorporated into learning.
- If you can’t say something in less than 140 characters, its likely not worth saying. If your presentation or point can’t be summarized into 140 characters, perhaps the message is not worth promoting. This generated considerable viewpoints across the panel.
- Texting will not kill literacy – it is an accepted practice to shorten one’s message to leverage the medium. Don’t sweat the abbreviations.
- Spelling and grammar – know when and where it is really important. Language is also changing….the word alot did show up in the New York Times as if it were correct!
The next divide is all about who has the power to create media and get it consumed! This segment truly underlines the importance of embracing new media and incorporate it into learning. Our program was built on this premise of taking action, creating content and being found through search and sustained participation in social media.
