6809 - Digital Media Effects on Conventional Reading and Writing Practices

 Quote from "Does Digital Media Make Us Bad Writers?"

"Digital tools have also changed student writing by providing the ability to marry text and other media in ways that can often help them provide greater depth and texture to what they are trying to communicate."

- At the beginning of this article, it discusses spell checker.  I feel that if one is unsure of the word they are looking for, if they are already using the spell checker - they may as well look up the word.  I do not mean in a dictionary - people think that takes up too much time.  You are already on the computer - Google it!  I have used Google, spell checker, and the thesaurus in a Word document to better my writing; therefore, I learn new words and concepts to use on an everyday basis.  I absolutely agree with this statement - the whole article for that matter.

Quote from "Literacy Debate: Online R U Really Reading?"

"“Nobody has taught a single kid to text message,” said Carol Jago of the National Council of Teachers of English and a member of the testing guidelines committee. “Kids are smart. When they want to do something, schools don’t have to get involved.”"

- This caught my eye because it is absolutely true.  No one 'learns' how to text, it just happens.  If there is a new abbreviation for something in a text message that I receive, I just use 'context clues' and normally figure it out.  However, I am still reading.

I am a Web Evangelist - I feel that Digital Media has changed the way we read and write - however, I don't think that it is a problem.  I feel that as long as comprehension is gained - it does not matter how it was read.  I don't enjoy reading a long drawn out passage - I would rather have it short, sweet, and to the point - with a visual! I am a visual learner, so pictures and images help me to better understand what I read.  However, as long as the students know how to use Digital Media correctly, I do not see the big deal in using it as a means of literacy.

This website is about a man who decided to teach Digital Media to his students.  He feels that even though people use social networks, such as Facebook and MySpace, they may not know how to find or use anything else on the internet.  They need taught how to use Digital Media.