Group+2's+New+Literacies+Revised+Definitions+Work

Michelle: My definition of new literacies has changed since the beginning of the year. At first, I simply stated that I thought it was being able to read, comprehend, and evaluate a multitude of texts. Throughout the semester, my own understanding of new litearcies has shifted quite a bit. New Literacices is being able to read, comprehend, and evaluate texts, but it also goes beyond that. It involves being technologically adept, being able to understand and utilize a technological took or implement in order to better understand a text or concept. I think that TPACK fits well into my definition of new literacies because the TPACK framework defines how technology should work in the classroom - and improve technological literacy. TPACK says that technology should be integrated fully into a classroom or lesson - not just a surface tool used to recreate the same lesson just on a computer. TPACK pushes teachers to go beyond and integrate technology and its existing purposes, to mold the technology to enhancing education and literary experiences.

Mary: My first impression of new literacies was new technology. I found out through this project, and the readings we have done that new literacies incorporates many aspects of learning. Students should be able to not only read a text, but they should be able to understand how to use new technologies. Technologies can be beneficial in a students learning. If a student does not know how to use, and apply the new technology they will not benefit from its existence. New literacies is the incorporation of technology and how to use technologies in the classroom. In the 21st century we must recognize and apply technological literacy elements in our teaching. Making our students literate students not only with a book, but also with a computer! The reading that influenced my definition of new literacies the most was TPACK. Integrating technological knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and content knowledge to create the perfect framework for learning. We should make sure we integrate all aspects from TPACK into our teaching.

Kelsey: Being able to read was what came to mind when we first discuss new literacies. A child should be able to read and comprehend a text that they are reading but technology is a huge part of new literacies. TPACK is a perfect example of new literacies, it helps us see how technology should be used in our classrooms. In the one of the TPACK articles we read there was a quote by Sir William Henry Bragg that I think went along real well with TPACK, it said, "The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them." In the TPACK article it talks about how we, as teachers, need to go beyond the knowledge that we already know and push ourselves to learn more through technology. We must combine our content, pedagogical and technological knowledge together to be successful in our classrooms. Technology needs to be incorporated in our classrooms as much as we can. TPACK pg. 17 states that, " Teachers need to develop a willingness to play with technologies and an openness to building new experiences for students so that fun, cool tools can be educational." Since technology is taking over, we as teachers should also be literate with technology, once we are then we can pass it on to our students. Students will gain more content knowledge if we use the tools that are out there, there are so many different tech tools and if we use them correctly they will have a positive impact on our students and our classroom. Many of the articles that we read this semester helped in developing our new definitions.

Stephanie D's Revised Definition