Icebreaker What was your first computer?

Traditional Literacy & Digital Literacy What is your definition literacy? What would you consider a text?

Definitions Literacy is the ability to read and write coherently for meaning and knowledge. The written word, body language, media Digital Literacy is the ability to use technology and read digital texts. (IRA)

The ability to read, write, and interact across multiple platforms, both traditional and digital. Dr. Alan Liu, English Department, UCSB

Tuckman, Bruce. (1965). “Developmental sequence in small groups.”

How Can We Use Social Networks to Bridge the Gap Between the Classroom Community and Students’ Social Communities?

Past and Present Generations Traditionalists: Baby Boomers: Generation X: Generation Y (The Millennials): Generation Z (The New Millennials): 1996-now

Changing Definitions of Community Traditionalists:Respect authority, personal contact, technology=radio Baby Boomers:Questioned authority, phone contact, technology=tv Generation X:Independent, contact, technology=computers Millennials & New MillennialsIndependent, text/ /IM contact, technology=internet

Digital Natives vs. Digital Immigrants Terms coined by Marc Prensky in his article “Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants” (2001). Digital Immigrants: Generations that did not grow up with computer technology and, thus, are skeptical of it. Digital Natives: Generations that were born into computer technology and, thus, view it as necessary and essential.

PEW Research Center August 2011 Most students will take online classes, predict 50% of college presidents. More than half the textbooks used by undergrads will be entirely digital, predict 42% of college presidents. 41% of college presidents say students are allowed to use laptops or other portable devices during class. 87% of college presidents use a smartphone daily. 83% use a desktop computer and 65% use a laptop. 49% use a tablet, and 42% use an e-reader.

Gartner Survey on Digital Reading Preferences April 2011 The time people spend reading on a digital screen is now almost equal to the time spent reading printed paper text.

Students’ Reading and Writing Habits

Websites Further Examined

Using Social Networks in the Classroom Facebook (social network website): class groups, discussion posts, reminders, and creative projects. Twitter (social networking and microblogging): class discussions, reminders, connections to the community. Google Docs (web-based word processor): allows for real time collaboration, store and share documents. Tumblr (blogging site): allows for group discussion on a topic or essay.

Questions 1.What are the advantages and disadvantages of using social networking in an academic setting? 2. Is it appropriate to have facebook (or other social networking) groups for students or should online communities be kept to school websites? 3.Would you incorporate social networking into your classroom? 4.Do you think that incorporating social networking into academia will aid or hurt students as they move on from being students in the 21 st century?

Challenges Student participation Making the online spaces “normal” not classroom Access to technology Institutions’ contracts with Blackboard or Angel Lack of wi-fi in classrooms Finding a balance between Contextualizing Content and being overly content focused. Cyber Citizenship

Benefits Create transferring skills they have to academic environments through authentic tasks. Students learn skills that will help them think critically about “digital texts” Students are engaged in the material and assignments Develop transferrable skills for future college classes and the work world Helping students bridge the digital divide Create a community that can go beyond the classroom

Ways to Get Started  Transliteracy Level 1  Add one type of online element to a unit of your class make it optional for students  Transliteracy Level 2  Add a transliteracy unit or assignment that uses an online element  Transliteracy Level 3  Fully intergrate a social community online and have students analyze online texts, as well as create a working definition of a cyber bill of rights.

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