Reflection for EDUC 6712

As a result of this course, I have had several revelations as to the teaching of new literacies. The most compelling comes from David Warlick, as he stated that; “we are at a time of rapid change” (Laureate, 2010). The change is in the way we teach students, learning to be learners. Through the methods of new literacies, students will be able to self educate, ask and answer probing questions and present their findings with peers in new and insightful ways. I researched the definition of new literacies and found that the best definition states; “New literacies include the skills, strategies, and disposition that allow us to use the Internet and other ICTs effectively to identify important questions, locate information, critically evaluate the usefulness of that information, synthesize information to answer those questions, and then communicate the answers to others. We encounter new literacies nearly every time we try to read, write, and communicate with the Internet and other ICTs” (Leu, 2004). A quote that struck me was by Douglas Harman when he said, “new literacy means preparing students for their future not our past” (Laureate, 2010). This, I whole heartedly believe, our students futures are at stake, thus I chose to continue my education with technology in mind, believing that students need to be prepared for a future unlike any we can imagine.

The skills this course offer encourage me to continue my own education into the incorporation of new technology in the classroom on a daily basis. I plan to teach these skills by being proactive in my acquisition of technological classroom devices. I have this year received a CPS system, data projector, laptop and a mobi device that I work daily to incorporate into lessons across all the curriculums of third grade. My goal is to make technology hands on and attainable in class and out of class during computer lab time activities where I can create webquests, teach publishing, and use educational games to increase rote skills. One other new creation that I will continue to support and promote is the use of our classroom blog (developed this year). Finally, what else can I do, as stated in our text; “at a minimum, students need to be able to identify an informational need, figure out which resources to use to address that need, evaluate the information they find, read and synthesize information from multiple sources, and perhaps even transform all those stray pieces of information into something original” (Eagleton, 2007).

My goals for professional development include the continuation of my own education into technological integration across the content areas. While teaching elementary school offers opportunities in every subject area, I will continue to seek ways to adapt lessons to include the latest technology, even when funds are low and materials lacking. For instance, next month in March, I will be attending the MACUL conference in Detroit. I intend on learning but also intend on bringing back new knowledge to share with my peers. I will remain perseverant, striving for, not only my successful teaching practices, but those of my coworkers. I am reminded of my favorite quote:
“If people experience only easy successes they come to expect quick results and are easily discouraged by failure. Resilience requires experience in overcoming obstacles through perseverant effort. Some setbacks and difficulties in human pursuits serve a useful purpose in teaching that success usually requires sustained effort. After people become convinced they have what it takes to succeed, they persevere in the face of adversity and quickly rebound from setbacks. By sticking it out through tough times, they emerge stronger from adversity.” (Bandura, 1994).
This course was another reminder of perseverance. I will continue to be successful because my success will encourage my students success. Being a positive educator and surrounding myself with positive support personnel is infectious. As a staff we then have the power to promote positive attitudes as we continue to celebrate success. That’s the most any of us can hope.

References:
Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V. S. Ramachaudran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human
behavior (Vol. 4, pp. 71-81). New York: Academic Press. (Reprinted in H. Friedman [Ed.],
Encyclopedia of mental health. San Diego: Academic Press, 1998).

Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E. (2007). Reading the web: Strategies for internet inquiry. New
York: The Guilford Press.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). New literacies [Webcast]. Supporting information
literacy and online learning in the classroom. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Leu, D. J., Kinzer, C. K., Coiro, J. L., & Cammack, D. W. (2004). Toward a theory of new
literacies emerging from the internet and other information and communication
technologies. In Ruddell, R.B. & Unrau, N.J., (Eds.), Theoretical models and processes of
reading (5th ed.). (pp. 1570–1613). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.