New Literacies Theory in Practice

These articles provided me with a new insight about New Literacies.  One of the key aspects focused upon in all three articles was that New Literacies are ever changing.  The New Literacies continuously change as technology creates new opportunities and possibilities in the classroom.  Integrating New Literacies will help students grasp skills that are required in society especially in the work force.

           The problem seems to be that since these ICTs and New Literacies are continuously changing it is creating an abundance of skills and tools to be taught and utilized.  Traditional definitions and practices of literacy have been affected due to the possibilities that New Literacies have presented in literacy education.  For example, literacy instruction can now include a worldwide community of learners which in itself is a rich learning experience.  Some problems New Literacies present are funding and effective implementation.  These problems may not affect wealthier school districts but certainly affect the majority of schools.  In my opinion, the New Literacies are crucial and need to be interrogated into literacy education, but how are we to do so with the lack of access to the tools.  Furthermore, if we do have access to the tools professional development and guidance on how to implement them is also difficult to come by.  Presently many programs are being cut in schools and guiding our teachers effectively to use technology is a big issue.
            In the article Toward a Theory of New Literacies Emerging from the Internet and Other Information and Communication Technologies I liked the following statement, “Change defines our work as both literacy educators and researchers — by teaching a student to read, we change the world.”  This made me reelect upon the fact that we do change the world everyday educating our students.  Perhaps the fact that the New Literacies are continuously changing and affecting education is something we should be thankful for.  Society is continuously changing therefore we should be tailoring out teaching to better reach students.  New Literacies can be a great way to more effectively reach students because society and students are constantly changing therefore we as educators should be continuously changing, as well.