Today’s Literacies LRC 320 Bryn Siegelman

New Literacies DEFINITION: Generally refers to new forms of literacy made possible by digital technology developments, although new literacies do not necessarily have to involve use of digital technologies to be recognized as such EXAMPLES: Clickers, Educational Websites

Clickers New interactive technology that allows students to respond via handheld remote controls Quick Q&A during classroom time Allows class to respond in a timely manner, making quizzes and participation easier

Educational Websites D2L - Allows teachers and students to communicate through an online forum in which grades and assignments are visible and up to date Turnitin.com - Requires students to turn in papers that are put through a plagiarism check, to verify the percentage of plagiarism within a paper.

Cost D2l - Free of charge, set up by the University and controlled by the teachers Turnitin.com - Free of charge, allows teachers to compare papers submitted from their students with any other papers on the same subject (from other universities or the internet)

Positives New forms of literacies create new ways to learn Websites like D2L allow students to keep track of grades and due dates for their courses Turnitin.com ensures that each student provides an original paper, removing the threat of plagiarism Clickers allow students to participate without feeling the pressure of answering correctly amongst their peers

Negatives Less interaction between the student and the teacher Many technical issues arise when relying on electronics Websites such as turnitin.com can sometimes make mistakes, resulting in false accusations of plagiarism Clickers can malfunction due to technical issues

Conclusion Overall, new literacies are creating a new way for teachers to relay information, for students to learn, and for both parties to stay organized Although some prefer traditional classroom methods, these new technological advances make learning easier and less intimidating User friendly for students of our generation Students enjoy the anonymity of resources such as the clicker