As I think back and reflect about my learning experiences
throughout this term, I consider the various connections I made between the
growth in the areas of new media and new technologies, and the changes in areas
related to literacies. Literacy is not
just about being able to read and write in today’s world. As technology evolves, so does the definition
of literacy for learners at school and in the workplace. Additional forms of
literacy and skills are necessary including digital literacy, collaboration, critical
thinking, visual literacy, information literacy, critical media literacy, and
semiotics, to name a few. These are all areas which we were exposed to
throughout this course. Transliteracy is a term I have now adopted and plan to
study further as I assess and evaluate the needs of my learners. I will
continue to aim to find the right balance of text literacy, visual literacy,
and digital literacy in my own life as well as for my learning environment.
Much of what was learned in regards to participatory culture
emphasizes the importance of collaboration, teamwork, and networking pertaining
to learning. In a paper by Jenkins, he defines a participatory culture by
stating that it “shifts the focus of literacy from one of individual expression
to community involvement” (page 4). He
further explains that “Before students can engage with the new participatory
culture, they must be able to read and write” (page 19). I learned the importance and impact of
communication and collaboration as part of a learning environment. In today’s world, with the widespread use of
the Internet, social media, blogs, forums, and message boards, learners are
exposed to information everywhere they turn.
Learners have instant access to information and resources, while at the
same time allowing them to take ownership of their own individual learning
experiences. The internet offers them the opportunity to be as involved or
anonymous as they would like, supporting their own learning needs and styles.
Using all of what we learned in regards to the various forms
of literacies helps us to move forward as both educators adapting to meet the
needs of our learners, and learners trying to make sense of all the rapid
information being shared with them on a continuous basis.
I found the topic of digital natives verses digital
immigrants to be very helpful in understanding the learners at my organization
and how to best accommodate their individual and collective needs. I will
continue to attempt to understand what it means to be a learner in the 21st
century, while balancing collaboration, technology, and social media. This
should allow me to create a fluid learning environment that is scale-able and
adaptable for all learners and instructors as technology continues to change
and evolve.
I think for me, a big ah-ha moment was the reading Language
and the Internet. Although I initially felt that I was already familiar with
much of the content contained in the book, I was able to see it with a new
perspective based on what I was learning in this course. In doing so, I was
happy to obtain certain takeaways that will be useful for me in my own
experiences.
Another ah-ha moment for me was when I first saw the
Advertising Deconstruction Assignment. I
was unsure about how or why it fit with the content for the course. Once we got to week 8-9, it all started to
make sense to me. I was no longer asking why we were doing that particular
activity but instead focusing on what it meant and how it helped to make sense
of what we were learning.
The ways in which people learn continuously change,
supported by changes and advances in technology. I began the course by
including the quote by Philosopher Francis Bacon that “Knowledge is Power.” I
now understand even more the impact and role that technology plays in regards
to knowledge and learning. Learners are
empowered through the use of new and varied literacies. Through these new
literacies, learning is transported from a more individual/personal scenario to
one which allows for collaboration, networking, and teambuilding. These changes
and adaptations enhance the overall learning experience. As learners and
educators, we continuously compare the old, comfortable ways of doing things
with new and cutting edge ways to learn, improve processes and increase the ability
to collaborate with others and engage learners of all types.
I want to thank everyone for all the help and support this
term, and I wish you all the best of luck as you continue with the MALET
program and other accomplishments. Looking forward to seeing some of you in
classes this summer!
Cathy
