Minds-on “New Literacies Definition and Components”

The ELA teachers I have interviewed are currently using more traditional methods of teaching in their classrooms.  They seem to be making a large attempt in integrating New Literacies, but the overall theme seems to be that there is difficulty doing so due to technology availability and correct functioning.  One teacher in particular does integrate lessons in the classroom that provides students with the ability to develop the cognitive skills discussed in the slideshow we viewed.  Problem solving and reasoning skills are a definite focus in her instruction.  Some uses of ICTs are incorporated but not a large amount.  Her students are using the internet to locate and identify information. There seems to be a little amount of instruction using ICTs to evaluate, synthesize and communicate. 

             I would like to help these teachers with the troubleshooting issues first and foremost.  I feel that the one teacher would definitely incorporate more technology in her literacy instruction if she had tools that functioned correctly and was provided with valid resources.  I am hoping to be able to correct some of the technical issue and provide her with some really valid, engaging tools to supplement her literacy instruction.  The digital story book seems like it will be great to integrate in this particular type of setting because it is a resource room.  There are only 5 students in the class at a time receiving ELA instruction. 
          All the teachers would benefit in professional development in the use of the SMART Board.  I found that the majority of teachers utilize the SMART Board if it is working correctly but do not utilize it to its full capability.  I was fortunate in my undergrad to have a professor that exposed us to a variety of resources to use in combination with the SMART Board.  The resource room teacher I have mentioned above definitely needs someone to help fix the SMART Board and would benefit wonderfully if she had another computer in the room.  Currently there are only two in the room. 
          Being that there are limited computers in this room grouping would be challenging.  Two students could be working in pairs each team having one computer.  The fifth student could then be receiving individualized instruction from the teacher.  This would only work if the resources the students were using on the computer were easily manipulated.  Otherwise, I feel this would be a great setting to utilize all resources via the SMART Board all five students could be up in front of the board working collaboratively.