4) How do the articles that we have read so far (Goody & Watt, Ong, Olson) affirm or challenge you definition of literacy, its consequences, how you teach it?
Goody & Watt discussed the ways in which writing has become important to our society; that our society previously did not depend on it. I considered this in the context of my own writing instruction. This week, my students are working on writing their stories of immigration. My natural inclination was to have them write out their rough draft on paper. A few students, however, asked if they could use the computer to type their rough draft. I was a little ashamed that I hadn’t offered that option in the first place; after all, that is the way that I write! Computers have become an integral part of our literate society. It leads me to wonder about the ways that technology will continue to change the common discourse of writing, formality, and communication.
Foe example, after the presidential election this year, I received both a formal ‘thank you’ in the form of a printed invitation to the public Inauguration events, as well as a ‘thank you’ text message on my cell phone. These two communications seem representative of the literacy bridge we are crossing over. How much of what we know of literacy will survive? How much of literacy is becoming antiquated?
Of the articles listed in this question, Ong has felt the most affirming since I do ask my students to write on a continuous basis in hopes of stretching or pushing their thinking. I find that those students who buy in to the concept and choose to commit to the writing task end up with much more than just better writing. Their discussion becomes more insightful. They become more willing to participate and engage in class. And overall, they make more academic progress withing my room. However, if I had to choose an author with whom I best identify thus far, it would Akinnaso. It is his understanding of various literacies and the unwritten rules which guide where, when and with whom each should be used that most closely aligns with how I conceive of literacy and attempt to teach it within my classroom.
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Goody & Watt discussed the ways in which writing has become important to our society; that our society previously did not depend on it. I considered this in the context of my own writing instruction. This week, my students are working on writing their stories of immigration. My natural inclination was to have them write out their rough draft on paper. A few students, however, asked if they could use the computer to type their rough draft. I was a little ashamed that I hadn’t offered that option in the first place; after all, that is the way that I write! Computers have become an integral part of our literate society. It leads me to wonder about the ways that technology will continue to change the common discourse of writing, formality, and communication.
Foe example, after the presidential election this year, I received both a formal ‘thank you’ in the form of a printed invitation to the public Inauguration events, as well as a ‘thank you’ text message on my cell phone. These two communications seem representative of the literacy bridge we are crossing over. How much of what we know of literacy will survive? How much of literacy is becoming antiquated?
Of the articles listed in this question, Ong has felt the most affirming since I do ask my students to write on a continuous basis in hopes of stretching or pushing their thinking. I find that those students who buy in to the concept and choose to commit to the writing task end up with much more than just better writing. Their discussion becomes more insightful. They become more willing to participate and engage in class. And overall, they make more academic progress withing my room.
However, if I had to choose an author with whom I best identify thus far, it would Akinnaso. It is his understanding of various literacies and the unwritten rules which guide where, when and with whom each should be used that most closely aligns with how I conceive of literacy and attempt to teach it within my classroom.
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