5.+New+Literacies+Practices

=__**5. New Literacies Practices:**__=

New literacies enable teachers and students to learn using various forms of technology. When you compare most classrooms now to classrooms from 10 to 20 years ago you would notice a few differences. The older classrooms would have consisted of blackboards or whiteboards for the teacher to write on however most classrooms have been upgrading these to the “smartboards” which are connected to a computer and have an interactive function that enables teachers to use the board without the need to sit at the computer. The board can be used to view websites, videos and play games. Teachers can use the smartboard to write down student’s ideas and unlike a whiteboard the smartboard can save what has been written with ease to the computer.

Teachers can use forms technology to teach subjects such as literacy in different ways. Instead of reading from a book, teachers can use the internet and the smartboard to use a video that is already narrated. The children can use netbooks or iPads to visit sites that are related to what is being taught and they can even play educational games to get them engaged in the subject. An example is using the smartboard to display a Youtube video of the reading of a book instead of using a big book (see video at the end of the page)

Early years learners are able to use their knowledge of new technologies at home if they have access to a computer and the internet. A survey was conducted and published on newliteracies.com.au that stated out of thirty three students 93% of students had computers at home and 83% had internet access. Of course these statistics would change in different areas of the world but from this we can gauge that most students have access to computers and the internet at home. While on practicum I noticed that the children had access to a website known as the Ultranet and this can be accessed at home. They could join pages such as “I learn dinosaurs” and they can communicate with their teachers and peers within the website.

Most students would come to school with prior knowledge of technologies such as video games and how to use a computer and a teacher can use this knowledge to teach the children and get them to be enthusiastic about what they are learning. Hill uses examples of “a multiliteracies curriculum in action”(Hill, 2012 Pg 366) One example that Hill uses is the use of a computer to get a reluctant reader to enjoy reading.

Due to the amount of changing text types, a new model of understanding texts had to be made. Luke and Freebody (1999) came up with “The Four Resources Model” which newliteracies.com.au says “encapsulates the multi-literate requirements for reading effectively in a multimodal world.” The Model: media type="youtube" key="gIILh-y_zss?rel=0" height="345" width="462" align="left"
 * 1) Break the code of texts: this is where the features of the texts such as spelling, sounds and letters are recognized.
 * 2) Participate in the meanings of the text: comprehending the meanings of the texts and “drawing on existing schemas.”
 * 3) Using the texts functions: Understanding that the context and function of the text plays a role in understanding the text for example an image is a visual representation of the text.
 * 4) Critically analyse and transform texts: to understand that texts represent views and ideas and that the design of the text can be redesigned to fit certain needs.