Week 1 Response

New Literacy is a term that was created to explain the rapid changes that are currently being used to teach literacy in the 21st century. It usually refers to new forms of literacy that are becoming common due to digital technological developments. New literacies are made up of several categories including but not limited to: Internet, new media, digital, informational and computer literacies(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/new_literacies). Common forms of these literacies are blogs, wikis, social networking, emails, digital storytelling, and collecting & conducting online searches. New literacies give students a chance to learn and creatively express themselves in this new digitally driven era.

More information about New Literacies
 *New Literacy Site
 *New Literacy Site           .

 *New Literacy Site
 *New Literacy Site

National Education Technology Standards-Student (NETS-S) are a way to transform learning environments using technology. It's an opportunity to take students out of the classroom and take them into a world of endless possibilities. They transform how students learn. The NETS-S consist of 6 standard categories:

Here is a link to view some of these NETS-S in action:  NETS-S in action



National Education Technology Standards-Teachers (NETS-T) sets objectives for teachers and standards that they need to start implementing in their classrooms. The 5 major objectives are: facilitate & inspire student learning & creativity,  design & develop digital age learning experiences and assessments, model digital age work and learning, promote and model digital citizenship & responsibility, and engage in professional growth and leadership (http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx).

As far as how I would develop critical new literacies and NETS in my classroom would be difficult with only 1 (really slow) working student computer. I have tried over the years to get each student a chance in the morning to use the computer to explore certain literacy sites as well as math sites and it has been very difficult. I also tried 2 years ago to have my students trained on how to work the laptop carts that our school currently uses. But because we are first grade they don 't learn how to use the laptop carts. I am book buddies with Becky's class in third grade. We have been doing group lessons on her interactive smart board. I would like to have our book buddies work together to create a digital story or book report together. Then share these projects with the class on the smart board. This activity would include many of the NETS-S and NETS-T and new literacies as well!