Week Ten Reading and Discussion

1. How has social media changed reading and writing processes in the digital age?

Social media has had a profound effect on the reading and writing processes in the digital age. “Thus, the reciprocal relationship between reading and writing becomes tighter in the digital sphere, making authorship more obviously tantamount to readership, and vice versa” (Avila & Pandya, 2013, p.63). In other words, through the use of social media, individuals are not just reading text, but are also creating their own for others to see. Social media has interwoven reading and writing, which is a wonderful outcome.  Now reading is not the “preferred” process that needs to be taught and utilized, it is considered equal with writing. 

2. Explain "cosmopolitan practice" in relation to digital literacies and it means for learning in school.

Cosmopolitan practice is the notion that individuals can not only take part actively as a citizen of the world, but can also reach across “seemingly irreconcilable differences” (Avila & Pandya, 2013, p.65). Citizens can now take part actively in worldwide issues via digital literacies. In this digital age, individuals can use digital literacies to reflect and respond on universal topics. They understand how to interact and listen through differences while also stating their own opinions. This cosmopolitan practice is a strategy that teachers should embrace. Educators should engage in hospitable conferencing, allowing students to discuss their processes of work with us in detail. 

3. How did the cosmopolitan conversation video challenge support critical media literacy?

The cosmopolitan video challenge strongly supported critical media literacy by allowing participants to voice their own opinions on specific topics or matters while also actively listening to other opinions.  Tyson and Eva not only examined their own values through their video challenges, but also paid close mind to values around the world or in their community. Their products show the interwoven relationship that critical media literacy can have with cosmopolitan practices.

4. How does this quote from the text, "In this digital age, traditional content creation such as book reports, unit projects and essays, cannot be merely digitized and regulated to the end of the unit as capstone demonstrations of content mastery," make you think about how digital technologies should be used to support learning in school?

This quote aligns with how I feel about digital technologies being used to support learning in school. These technologies can be used across all subject areas throughout a whole entire year, they do not have to be isolated as an end of semester project. Digital technologies can not only show content mastery, but can also expand knowledge of subject matter, so why should we only use it sporadically? These processes can enhance learning in the classroom and should be utilized often.

5. How do the digital stories you watch this week support the concept of cosmopolitanism?

Through watching these digital stories, we are connecting with many other people around the world. We are viewing their experiences and opinions.Anyone can do what we are doing. We are providing our own opinions and critiques in a respectful manner.

6.  in a blog posting, copy and paste a quote from the text that have moved you in some way (i.e. surprised, confused, disagree, strongly agree) and in about 100-150 words state why you have selected the quote. Then find an article, video, podcast, blog posting, image related to what you have read and link to it or embed it in your Blog. Describe the resources and a brief explanation of how it is connected to the reading.

“Curricula and pedagogies built around literacies in this age must be designed for an era characterized by access to and democratization of tools, people, and ideas in digital spaces” (Avila & Pandya, 2013, p. 80).

I chose this quote because I feel that every educator in today’s world should be aware of this issue. We are in a new age, where digital tools are taking over the world. Students are not only exposed to digital media, but they enjoy it. Educators must expand their literacies to a focus also on the digital tools. A common goal that schools all around the world share is to prepare students for the real world. We cannot prepare them for the real world if we are not utilizing things that are the main focus of everyday life. Our curriculum should now embrace the use of digital tools, not only from a teacher standpoint, but with the students interacting and creating their own unique products. 

This is a different type of video than what I would normally choose, but I really thought it fit well with this week’s reading. This video is a study that the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) took part in to display information on South African adolescents on digital tools. I selected this video for two reasons. The first reason is because it just gives a lot of helpful and statistical information on digital tools. It will show viewers how powerful this new age is becoming with all the statistical terms. Also, it discusses topics of race and diversity. The video stated that “unfortunately race is still a defining characteristic.”  I feel that this statistic can be comparable to this week’s reading because it displays how important cosmopolitan practices really can be and how they could help matters around the world.

Sources:

Avila, J., & Pandya, J. (2013). Critical digital literacies as social praxis. (Vol. 54). New York: NY: Peter Lang Publishing Inc.

UNICEF. (Performer) (2011). South africa young people on digital tools. [Video podcast]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n9008VfpeQ