Final Posting - Week 16

This should be interesting as I have never thought of how I would teach kids as I have always just went about talking to them and helping them deal with problems as they arise.  Essentialism explains that the purpose of school is to train the intellect and teach kids the culture and traditions of the past while providing skills and knowledge to help children function in our society.  I believe that is what school should be as well.  When looking at Digital Media Literacy it takes this to the next step in that it is preparing children for the future.  Avila states, “Technology [ushers] in new learning challenges for the first "always-connected generation”, and thus becoming literate in all forms of digital media will be an essential tool for children.  However, when looking at the nature of children, I lean more toward behaviorism, I truly believe that children can change or alter behavior based on what goes on around them.  Again our text states, “The ability to render one's world as changeable and oneself as an agent able to direct that change is integrally linked to acts of self-representation through writing.” (Hull)  I have worked with behavior issues for the majority of my career and writing and journaling feelings and behaviors has always been an outlet we have asked children to use.  If using a digital media outlet could help children make changes or find people who could help them make changes then this could be a wonderful teaching tool.  When thinking about curriculum this has now become less difficult for me to identify as I believe you have to be flexible in this area as all children will have strengths and weaknesses that may require you to change something. Again our text states, “There is both subtle and overt pressure to focus on teaching technologies as tools, without incorporating an understanding of their uses within the participatory culture, and without integrating technology instruction fully into the pre-service curriculum in ways that result in critical analysis of content or alignment with pedagogy” (Avila) and because of this I know that I have to focus on how children learn best and what will motivate them to be successful.  This means not only using technology, but teaching them how they can use the technology in ways that will make their lives and the lives of others better.  I believe teachers should teach to the child not to the standard or test score needed.  This course has shown and given me so many ideas that I will be able to incorporate into my curriculum, from the blogging and deconstructing advertisements alone I think I could have such a great time getting kids excited about coming to class.  

http://webquest.org/

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/critical-media-

http://www.ikeepsafe.org/educators/more/google/

http://classroom-aid.com/educational-resources/digital-literacy/

http://kidblog.org/home/

References:
Hull, G. (2003). At last: Youth culture and digital media. 229-233. Retrieved fromhttp://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.fairmontstate.edu/docview/215345891

Ávila, J. (2013). Critical digital literacies as social praxis: Intersections and challenges. New York: Peter Lang