Over the course of this class I have learned a great deal about ways to teach and engage students in the world of 21st century technology and literacy. I have been able to strengthen my own literacy skills during the course while also having the opportunity to build my students skills of inquiry based learning. I have been introduced to many literacy strategies and web-based tools that will aid my students in searching, evaluating, and synthesizing information from the internet.
One of the most striking revelations that I have had during this course was how important it is to use essential questions when having students work on an inquire based project. I learned that students often times just start a project and never ask a single question. “Children and young adolescents frequently initiate research without explicit research questions or a plan of action; therefore, we need to help them develop strategies for this important first step in the inquiry process” (Eagleton & Dobler 2007, p. 84). Now knowing this has changed how inquire projects are completed in my classroom. I now assess each class by using the handout provide in the book “Reading the Web” by Eagleton and Dobler. It has truly changed how learning is done in my classroom.
As I move forward in my teaching career I will now be taking the time to ensure that my students are asking important questions, searching and locating information in the proper way, evaluating the information they have gathered and resources they have found, that they are synthesizing information and lastly able to communicate all of this effectively. Now knowing how to do this will benefit my students. They will leave my class with 21st century literacy skills that will encourage them for the rest of their education.
A goal that I have for myself after taking this course is to utilize what I have learned and develop more inquire based literacy projects for my students that will prepare them to enter the 21st century world. “Besides having basic literacy skills, today’s students also need technology skills for communicating, investigating, accessing and using information, computing, thinking critically about messages inherent in new media, and understanding, accessing and evaluating data.” (Gahala &Holum, 2001, p.1). By taking on the task of developing more inquiry based projects it will challenge me to stay on top of the new types of technology and inquiry based literacy skills. To make sure that I reach this goal, I will stay up to date by reading and researching literacy and technology on a regular basis. I will also take time to find any professional development seminars that may be offered on this topic or that may be related to this topic.
This course was an eye opening experience for me in the world of literacy and technology. I was able to increase my knowledge of what literacy and technology means in today’s world. I now have many strategies that will enable me to effectively teach my student and leave me with the confidence that I have done my best to prepare my students to enter the world.
References
Eagleton, M. B., & Dobler, E. (2007). Reading the web: Strategies for
internet inquiry. New York: The Guilford Press.
Holum, A., Gahala, J., & North Central Regional Educational Lab., O. (2001). Critical
Issue: Using Technology To Enhance Literacy Instruction. Retrieved from ERIC database.
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