AUTHENTICITY OF DIGITAL LITERACY IN THE CLASSROOM

Troy Hicks and Kristen H Turner’s “No Longer a Luxury: Digital Literacy Can’t Wait” speaks directly to me, and how committed I am as a teacher in making sure that my students engage effectively in technology. “How far have we come? What have we changed? How are digital literacies really being taught, if at all? I think this are questions we in the school community have to keep on asking ourselves if we really want the students to achieve mastery in digital literacy.

The technology integration in Exodus Elementary School due to lack of funds is truthfully something teachers have no control over. “Wireless is unreliable, the single laptop is never maintained and one LCD projected must be shared among teachers.” This reminds me of when I was a high student in Nigeria. We don’t have enough computers to go round a class. The few computers we had in the school was found in the library, and the Principal’s office. Students only have access to the computer in the library a week before the School Examination, which is towards the end of the school year. This is just to practice for Computer Practical Exams. It is truly frustrating for the teachers and the students, and the only way out is to stick to methods that “do not imbed technology into literacy instruction.”

It is true that technology in the classroom cannot be viewed as an add-on, but must instead be used to cultivate distinctly digital literacies, which is in line with what Danah Boyd is encouraging us to teach our kids. She said that Technology should be part of life, and allows one to connect to people around the globe. Boyd also commented on the one fabulous thing that happens because of social media, “you understand yourself to be a part of a network”. This is one thing I want my students to get to know. But the only way they can, is by exposing them to digital literacy and building their skill in it. It’s our job as teachers to enlighten our students, because “they don’t understand how information is architected. They don’t necessarily understand the broader media landscape, the kinds of propaganda that go on”, which is why they need adults.  It’s not all about having students work in the computer/chromebooks, the students need to be able to use the technology to “consume texts in critical, creative ways.”

In a situation where the technology is scarcely available, teachers obviously need to work extremely hard to make sure that their students are given equitable opportunities to develop their literacies, just like other students form the district that have access to technology. Although, there is nothing the teachers can do in regards to the provision of the technology, but I think being an advocate and speaking out, which is one out of the three ideas Hicks and Turner gave to help teachers develop and improve students digital literacy. According to Hicks and Turner, “Digital literacy allows us to advocate and we can individually add our voices to the professional and political conversation.”

To build my students’ digital know-how, I need to “develop (my) digital literacy, engage in a larger conversation about digital literacy in education”, thereby supporting and building the skills of my students in digital literacy, which will be beneficial to them not just in school, but in the society at large. I can’t wait to build and develop digital literacies in my students, by putting myself out there, and being a model for my students to follow. This blog being my first attempt, makes me want to try more of this.