Group+3's+Revised+New+Literacy+Definitions

Stephanie C- The definition of New Literacy is constantly evolving with the new technologies that are continually being invented. New literacy involves being able to interact appropriately with these new technologies in a way that is beneficial to learning. It also involves being able to utilize these technologies properly in order to benefit from their full abilities. New literacy is all about using new technology to our advantage in order to help us learn effectively and in new ways as well. New literacy requires that we take our current literacy and apply it to these new technologies in order to keep growing and learning with society. TPACK even mentions that "Rapid changes in technology have added a new kind of knowledge that educators have to integrate with pedagogical and content knowledge" (16). This is why it is so important for teachers to be able to effectively utilize technology in the classroom for learning. As TPACK states though, the technology needs to be re-purposed in order to fit the needs of the classroom. In the New Learning article it stresses that "Teachers and students alike stand to benefit from such 21st century standards and skills as innovation, creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration" (6). This helps make it very evident that teachers will also benefit from learning to use various technologies in the classroom as well, whether it be a SmartBoard, or web tools such as Twitter, Prezi, and the like. When it comes to New Literacy, everyone benefits from learning how to use technology in a way that helps them learn how to communicate effectively with their peers.

Alex G-New literacy is the ability to use modern tools for communication and language with the ever-expanding influences of technology; this can take many different forms. New literacies can take the form of digital videos, digital stories, twitter posts, facebook posts, online articles, avatars, comic strips, online journaling, and, many more. These tools can help improve instruction and enhance the classroom. Teachers need to incorporate these new forms of communication. These tools can be repurposed for educational needs. Teachers can use these tools for presentations, projects, and student-to-teacher communication. Students also need to be able to use these tools to navigate the modern world. Students should learn how to communicate with these tools. Each tool requires a different set of language and tech skills. Teaching students how to use these tools will help them learn the concept of code switching both on and off the Internet.

Hailee K- New literacy is the ability to use the ever-expanding tools of our society through our learning, language, and communication. Literacy does not simply mean the ability to communicate. Instead, it has evolved into an entity that is greatly affected by the technology in our lives. New literacy can take many different forms ranging anywhere from the use of search engines or digital videos to blogging. TPACK stresses the importance of repurposing technology in order to benefit students in the classroom. New literacy does not simply mean playing writing gibberish on a blog. It is combining the use of technology resources to make a more innovative and interactive learning environment. New literacy revolves around the concept of using these tools in different forms. Instead of students simply using twitter as a way to post statuses or talk with friends, they could use it to create meaningful discussions to enhance the pedagogy and content matter. As our society continues to evolve, we as educators must be innovative in using resources to best create beneficial learning. New literacy continues to adapt as our world changes with ever-evolving technological resources.

Amanda M - New literacy is constantly changing with technological advancements in and out of the classroom. According to TPACK, some define technology as being all the “new stuff after someone was born”. If this were true, then each generation would find a new and evolving technology that others may not see. My generation sees Smartboards as being the new technology, while my mother’s generation finds cell phones to be relatively impressive, and my grandmother is still astounded by the computer. New literacy is wrapped within all of these types of technologies to provide a new source of educational learning. The iPhone, Flickr, cloud computing, and GPS are all new literacies in which need to be read and interpreted properly to be fully comprehended. These tools cannot be looked at merely for social purposes but rather repurposed for educational contexts. TPACK believes that “most technologies teachers use typically have not been designed for educational purposes”, but with the knowledge of these new literacies comes fluency that can be transferred to younger generations. Through developed training and practice, a deep understanding of new literacies and how they interact together can be learned.