By Nikki Wocl
The world has been enthralled by keeping up with all of the changes of the Kardashian-Jenner family. After fourteen seasons of family drama, break ups, make ups, kids, and everything in between, the world has continued to watch and follow the Kardashians. As the family has grown and changed, so, too, have the viewers. Just as people want to continue keeping up with the newest trends about the Kardashian family, people also want and need to keep up with the newest literacies.
Think back on your childhood when you brought home your report card, listened to music, or wanted to plan a movie date with your best friend. What types of technologies did you use? Our report cards were brought home in envelopes with teachers' cursive comments in red pen. Music was played on using a tape recorder or CD player. Movie dates were planned calling on a house phone and checking the newspaper for the movie times. Many of these technologies used are irrelevant today. Today, students' report cards are posted online, where students or parents may never even see them or can be viewed frequently. Music can be played through a phone, a digital assistant such as Alexa, the speakers of a SmartBoard or through wireless speakers. To get a friend's attention, you can Snapchat them, tag them in a post on Instagram, tweet them, text them, FaceTime them or call to find out a movie time by asking Siri. As the technology is updated, we have to update our literate practices in order to keep up with the times and be able to function in our ever changing world.
Just as our literacy practices need to change with the times so do our teaching practices. We must be setting our students up for success in the technological world that they live in. Students must learn the literate practices to function and be successful. They should also be given opportunities to show their learning through various forms of literature.
As the world continues to keep up with celebrities and the newest fads, teachers need to consistently educate themselves on the literacy practices. These practices should be implemented in the classroom in order to help students keep up with the literacies.
I agree that teachers must keep up with these new and constantly changing technologies. Part of a teacher's job is ensuring students are ready to enter the real-world and be productive members of society. Therefore, students need to be comfortable using these technologies so they can succeed and in turn teachers need to be comfortable using and teaching with these new devices.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! As technology changes, teachers definitely need to adapt as well! I feel that if teachers are not responsive to new technology, it can affect their students because they will be behind and not be able to preform using new technologies. But, I do feel that while teachers should keep up with technologies, it does not mean that they should completely remove literal and oral tasks as well.
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy and an accurate post of teacher's "keeping up". I'm amazed at how much technology has changed since I started teaching. I used to teach off of an overhead projector that evolved into a projector with a laptop and eventually got my prized piece of technology in my classroom ....a smartboard (after the PTA raised money to buy them for all of the classrooms in my school). I wish a lot of the technology resources that I have today for past students. For example, Big Universe is a great resource that allows teachers to assign books to teachers via a website. I also use it for Shared Reading and my science curriculum.
ReplyDeleteOn another note with these ever changing technologies, how many of you (those who are classroom teachers) are purchasing technology for your classroom with your personal funds?
I have definitely purchased a fair amount of apps and pieces of technology for my classroom. When switching districts, I walked into my classroom that didn't contain a SmartBoard and didn't know what to do with myself. I went from using it for everything to being back not to a white board but to a GREEN CHALKBOARD! I was so thrown off I didn't know what to do. So, I purchased some of my own technology for the classroom to help me project my personal iPad on the projector. By the end of the year after many emails and begging, my principal got me a SmartBoard.
DeleteI haven't spent any money on technology! I don't have any way of allowing my kids to access apps in my classroom. The only tech they are exposed to is the Smartboard and the computers in the library! Ugh!
DeleteI thought your introduction including the Kardashian’s was a fun and intriguing start! I have to admit I follow the Kardashian’s closer than I wish and constantly find myself questioning why I do it. Anyway, you bring up a great point that just like the rest of the world, teachers need to keep up with the latest trends too.
ReplyDeleteGreat Connection Nikki! It’s fun that we have so much to draw upon these days for literacy and that includes Kardashian watching! I agree that it is vital to keep up with the changing times, new literacies and new pedagogies in order to be the most effective teachers we can be. This sets our students up to be successful learners and citizens.
ReplyDeleteYour post had a great hook to catch the attention of your readers and I agree with so much of what you've written in your post. I think as teachers we need to find the right ways to incorporate technology and not just use tech for busy work. As a reading specialist I find myself in a pretty unique situation. Not only does my space not have a smart board, I have the last remaining chalkboard in the building. You'd be surprised how much you can get done in a tech free zone, although I do rely on my laptop quite a bit. I am always looking for the right technology to incorporate into my lessons.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! As technology evolves, so does classroom practices. I believe in order for students to be productive members of society, they must learn how to successfully navigate technology. I definitely agree that teachers should be keeping up with technology, however I don't think it should be the primary source of learning and teaching.
ReplyDeleteAt my internship, iPads, chromebooks, and other devices were purchased through district funding as well as the applications on them.
Great post Nikki! I loved your connection - if we prioritize to keep up with the current well being of celebrities, people whom we will never know personally, we MUST prioritize to keep up with the current literacies practices that will benefit the youth. I believe that if we as educators took the time to keep up with the things that are most important, we will equip our students with the very tools they need to be literate and successful in this technologically driven world.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your title! So catchy! But you are so right, we have to stay up to date on the literacies. As teachers we must stay up to date with literacies so we can teach them to our students so their knowledge remains current.
ReplyDeleteNikki,
ReplyDeleteI love your connection to the Kardashian family.. They have been on television FOREVER, and as annoying as I may find them, I can't help but watch to stay up to date on their drama and fashion trends. This is very much like technology, ALWAYS changing . And just as we watch the Kardashian's and adjust our lives to stay current with what's "in," as educators, it's important to do the same with technology. We need to keep up with, if not get ahead of, the trends in technology that can be utilized in our classrooms.
Awesome post!
Hi Nikki,
ReplyDeleteThat was a fun post to read because I can relate doing all those things! I miss those times and I find them simpler. Students will never know the feeling of calling their friends on the phone and either leaving a message or them not picking up. I guess no play date for them because that was the only way to communicate with the parents. I remember if I wanted to walk home from school I would have to call my parents from a pay phone at school. If they did not pick up I did not have permission to walk so I had to take the bus. I wonder too how teachers will keep up the times in the classroom to have their students one step ahead of the technology world.
Wow! Great intro, it definitely hooked me in. But I totally agree! We have always been up to date with the latest and greatest trends when it comes to technology so why stop now? As technology changes, so does classrooms. I think a teacher can agree that every year that they taught has never been the exact same. When it comes to lessons, common core standards, curriculum, and technology it will always be different as the years go on in a school system. We are always trying to provide the best education for students and this also includes technology.
ReplyDeleteI agree that teachers definitely need to follow the trend when it comes to technology. If a teacher if fortunate enough to be in a school that give them the access to technology to use in the classroom then they should take advantage of that opportunity. I know so many older teachers that are too afraid to try new technology or who just do not want to take the time to learn something new but by doing this they are depriving their students of useful resources.
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