February 1st: Digital Literacy & the Information R/evolution
Assigned readings/viewings:
- Livingston, Sonia. “Internet Literacy: Young People’s Negotiation of New Online Opportunities” (on dropbox).
- Thompson, Clive. “On the New Literacy,” Wired Magazine 17.09
- Some concepts: Wikipedia, Information Literacy (first three sections) & Digital Literacy (all sections)
- Humanity Lobotomy: Second Draft (video; net neutrality)
Use the “comment” button below to respond to the readings/video above.
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Mariam A
Malwari1@masonlive.gmu.edu
When it comes to the world of change the internet has swept upon us I think the old proverb “if you can’t beat them join them” describes how society should react. Once upon a time it was acceptable for the new generation to explore what the internet has to offer, and for our parents to watch from the sidelines and generously label us as “the guru generation”. Apparently, it takes a lot more to become a digital guru than being able to simply surf the net, use Skype, and pay your bills online. Furthermore, being technologically savvy doesn’t cut it either. The whole idea is to intertwine the technical aspect with the various types of content that computers and the internet possess.
When searching for information over the internet many of us have experienced feelings of frustration, aggravation, and annoyance. There are few things more irritating than having a word on the tip of your tongue and turning to the internet for the answer, but not being able to find it because one letter is off, or you simply don’t know how to search for it. An example was made in the text with Candy and her family. The entire family spent ten minutes out of their day attempting to locate a German website that nobody could remember how to spell. Although what she was searching for wasn’t complex, the process and interchange of information online is not a straight shoot. People need to understand how to access information in order to receive and understand the material they rely on the internet for. This means having some level of digital literacy, and the higher the better.
Wikipedia, a very useful website, is known for its facts about anything and everything. Unfortunately, like a lot of content on the internet not everything can be trusted. Wikipedia is open for anyone to add information and claim it to be factual. An internet literate person would more likely have the knowledge to filter accurate data from false, versus someone that technically is adept but isn’t familiar with where to find reliable information online.
The prevalence and importance of internet literacy is spreading globally faster than a contagious epidemic. There have been numerous conferences, declarations, and statements made by politicians, government, and other public officials regarding the increasing need to educate society on digital literacy. To be honest, until I read these articles I myself never took the time to analyze how much of a difference a thorough understanding of computer usage could be. Jobs are increasingly requiring job applicants to have some level of digital literacy, whether it be through the usage of smartphones, configuring a GPS device to travel, communicating via the internet, and much more. That’s simply for your low-class and middle-class jobs. When it comes to prestigious positions that we all aspire to achieve one day, a strong grasp on human-computer interaction is not negotiable.
Many will argue that the loss of classic literature is to be blamed on the advancement of the internet. It has been pointed out that in fact the opposite seems to be true. Digital literacy makes reading, writing, and communicating nonverbally a lot easier. If you forget to grab the newspaper on your way out, the news is available at your computer, most of the time on your phone too. E-readers have gained popularity recently as well. Their convenient size makes them easy to travel with versus lugging around a suitcase of books. CEOs are able to make important decisions in a timely manner when collaborating with an international organization. Businesses can virtually sit in on a company’s meeting and take part just as easily as if they were physically in the same room.
On a more intellectual note digital literacy has caused a positive change in writing styles. In the past many people wrote their last essay of their lives during their school years. Today texting, tweeting, and blogging are second nature to us. Studies have shown that in actuality these habits have allowed us to write more concisely. This surprised me at first. One would assume that if they used the spelling and grammar we rely on in text messages when writing an important draft, it would be full of syntactic mistakes. However, it has been proven that people write better when writing to a specific audience. Also, social communication occurs online more than face to face. So although your English essay may have scored a C+, the email you sent to your boss turned out to be well thought out, clear, and effective. We are involuntarily training ourselves to become better writers, and in turn more articulate speakers.
I would say that this new awareness of digital literacy is a good thing. However, we must tread slowly. The internet poses more positive outcomes than negative, but the negatives should not be ignored. I have seen children as young as two years old playing with an Ipad, or on a computer. As these kids grow their minds can absorb the messages the internet relays more easily then the digital immigrants. Therefore it is everyone’s responsibility to set boundaries on what can be searched. It is important that young minds challenge themselves and dive into new content online, but should be shielded from cyber-crime and other possible dangerous situations.
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/local-education/2012/jan/20/tdmet02-virginia-school-divisions-can-use-digital–ar-1625280/
–> Article I found relating to the subject
First of all, the readings and video from this week covered a lot of ground. I’ll start with the Human Lobotomy video because I feel strongly that the issue of who is controlling content online is a key piece of utilizing the internet as we know it. I agree when Moby says that without net neutrality, “Internet will become a private toll road, auctioned off by companies like AT&T.” This threat of monopoly seems always to be an issue in capitalistic societies. Because the video is against large corporations squashing the little guys, I may have had difficulty viewing it without net neutrality.
Wikipedia’s definition of information literacy was informative but painfully ambiguous. I understood the overall concept but without practical examples, it was difficult to envision what information literacy looks like today. This is ironic because isn’t this the antithesis of the aforementioned concept? I am one who is appreciative of relatable examples and practicality. I would’ve appreciated a small scale example and large scale example (i.e. Bobby needs to get from home to school but he doesn’t have a car. He looks up his local bus schedule and calculates a route that will get him to school in time for his first class. Bobby carries out his plan. Boom! Small scale information literacy example)
Also, it leads to many other unanswered questions such as: If information literacy was decreed “part of the basic human right of life-long learning” in the Prague Declaration, then why aren’t more schools centering their curriculums on this objective? Especially in the US since we have declared ourselves a progressive nation helping to spearhead this movement.
On the note of education, Marc Prensky’s notion that teachers will have a difficult time teaching digital natives was not agreeable in my opinion (Wikipedia Digital Literacy). There may be some truth in it but there was no supporting evidence. Usually, the ways in which digital natives tend to be literate is juvenile and though they are familiar with the computer or internet interface they are still very much subject to getting boxed in by their routine and tend to stick to sites they are familiar with – supported by Livingston’s project with the three children (Livingston 103).
Similar to Lunsford, I tend to see the digital movement in a more positive light (Thompson). Even though the younger generation many times posts opinions or thoughts online without considering the implications, it is a learning and maturing process in which many seem to be adapting to quite nicely.
The readings for this week touched on what it means to be digitally and information literate. They touched on how information literacy has changed with the growing digital age. The article by Sonia stated that communication technology has become a very important part of information literacy. The article defined information technology as “ the ability to access, adapt, and create new knowledge using new information” (107). The Internet and other communication technology forms have played a huge role in expanding access and creating new knowledge. Millions of people have access to information with just a click of a mouse, and they can readily spread that information and communicate it with people all over the globe.
Similarly, the article by Clive pointed out that this new digital literacy focuses a lot on communication. He said that 38% of students writing takes place outside of the classroom. Like the three students studied by Sonia, most of this writing takes place through digital communication in chat rooms, instant messaging, blogs, Twitter and texting. Through these social mediums, people are able to collaboratively work with one another and debate different ideas. This collaboration can lead to the spread of new ideas and knowledge. These digital literate people are better able to write for a specific audience, and they know how to persuade them and get their points across (Clive).
There were several concerns mentioned in the articles about digital literacy. One was that many people struggle to discern between what is a credible source and what is not. Both Sonia and Wikipedia’s explanation of information literacy touched on this concern. They stated that it is important that people learn how to evaluate information and gauge whether or not the information is reliable and trustworthy. Another concern is that with the growing popularity of these digital mediums, many companies are trying to take them over for their own profit. The video “Humanity Lobotamy,” explained that companies are trying to take control of the media and make it a closed system rather than an open one. This will also play a part in discerning among sources because companies can control what is written on the Internet, and what they write may not be the truth and often is not.
I certainly agree that information literacy is changing. There is certainly more of a focus on technology especially in the schools. The fact that students are now using ipads, smart boards, and other forms of technology in the classroom just blows my mind. Most of what I read and write is on some form of digital communication, and I know that it is true of many others. Very few people read the newspaper. They get all of their information from television or online. I think that it is important that the Internet remains an open form of media and communication.
This week’s readings had the overall theme about literacy and that there are many different types of literacy’s. Before reading, or even registering for this course, I always thought that literacy had to do solely with reading and writing, but to my surprise it is not. Nowadays, literacy includes the traditional definition, digital literacy, information literacy to name the most prominent in the readings.
The beginning Clive Thompson on the New Literacy started off by saying that due to social networking, text messaging, and PowerPoint, is leading to an illiterate age; I completely disagree. Being able to read and understand different things in different mediums, to me, is being literate. As I continued to read I found that Andrea Lunsford believed the same. The article said, “When Lunsford examined the work of first- year students, she didn’t find a single example of texting speak in an academic paper.” And find that to be true because from experience I know when to “dabble” in texting speak (ROFLOL, GTG, TTYL) and when to write in an academic atmosphere where formal writing is asked of me. This is what I believe Lunsford also touched on with Kairos, which is, “assessing their audience and adapting their tone and technique to best get their point across.” Not only that I believe that the education system also has a role that they play in helping me “master academic prose” as well helping me learn different types of illiteracies.
I also feel that this has to do with the school system we current live in. I remember when I was in high school My classes had smart boards which allowed students, who were computer or tech savvy, the opportunity to learn in a way that they possibly would enjoy. Teachers don’t just teach their students how to write essays and read novels, they teach them how to go be “digitally literate”, as the Wikipedia article states, and helps them to do research, teach them what a credible source is, and to help prevent plagiarism.
Not only that but also, according to the Wikipedia article on information literacy, “because information literacy skills must be taught in the context of the overall process [and] instruction in information literacy skills must be integrated into the curriculum and reinforced both within and outside of the educational setting.” So wouldn’t it be prudent to teach our children not only how to read and write, but to also know how to use computers and glean information from them as well as any other technology?
So I disagree with the questions that we are going into an age of illiteracy because literacy has many different definitions and it’s crucial that every man, woman, and child be literate and all forms as well as being able to understand the difference between then and adjusting accordingly.
This link is just an example at how, even at a young age, our literacy rate is starting to increase: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGMsT4qNA-c
I believe majority of the “digital immigrants” as noted by Marc Prensky or the generation who wasn’t born into the advanced technology age are very skeptical of people’s interest in the Internet and it’s usage. I was particularly interested in Clive Thompson’s article and the Stanford Study of Writing. It was relatable to my past experiences I have had with my parents, teachers, and other elders. They have always held somewhat of a negative connotation towards the use and fondness of technology in everyday life. For example, parents and teachers would voice their disapproval in abbreviation and texting lingo used by students through text and instant messaging. (i.e. wats up? how hav u been?) However, I have always believed that I am knowledgeable enough and aware of when that language is appropriate and when it’s not. In Andrea Lunsford’s study she found no hint of text lingo in any of her students’ prose.
Digital literacy and information literacy are highly interconnected. One of the key factors that I pulled from the Information Literacy article was that people are excellent at searching and finding information, but in many instances they are ignorant of the need to evaluate the information they are using. On a regular basis it is assumed that the sites we are using are accurate and that the information is going to suit us for the issue we are dealing with or just for our curiosity. We see this again in Livingston’s piece when he states, “So, critical literacy is a vital part of internet literacy, with trust a central issue in navigating the online environment. Yet most children and young people we interviewed in the focus groups appeared to be ignorant of the motives behind the Web sites they were using, and many, it was clear, had not thought about this question at all.” Another key point that was stressed in Digital Literacy and Information Literacy was that we are life long learners, which we have to be in this escalating technological society. In the classroom, government, workplace, and everyday activities we are challenged to adapt to the concepts and skills of information and digital literacy that are no longer encouraged, but expected. In the Digital Literacy piece it stated that you need to be digitally literate to become economically secure, which is completely true. I don’t categorize myself as a “digital native” because technology wasn’t that prominent in those first ten years of my life. I think the children born in the 21st century should be considered the “digital natives”. Yes, I am able to adapt and acquire the skills necessary to effectively navigate and apply information literacy concept and skills, however in some instances my six-year-old cousin can be more tech savvy than me at times. Senior workers are getting the boot anymore, because corporations and organizations want employees who can “ recognize the need for information, be able to identify locate, evaluate, and effectively use information for the issue at hand,” as well as be affluent in the use of technology. A great eye opener of this for me was this past semester when we had a speaker in my MSOM 302 course (Managing Information in a Global Environment). He was there to talk about resumes and how to carry yourself and what companies expect when they offer you a job interview. For example, when they ask you what one of your weaknesses are they want to hear what you struggle with, but more importantly what you are doing to improve and overcome that weakness. In MSOM software such as excel would be an example of something possible employees, and even myself, might need to improve on.
The Humanity Lobotomy video was something that was unfamiliar to me. I wasn’t aware that phone companies wanted to essentially control the Internet and what user’s view. In this case, I am a big proponent of net neutrality. If that is taken away, it is sending us back to the one directional source of information. Communication and the sharing of information will be limited and in turn negatively impact society. It was clear from the video how strongly outraged people were on this issue, I cannot imagine if it were actually put into place.
To sum up, I agree that on a global level, people need to educate themselves on how to use, analyze, evaluate, and apply information. I also think it is important to break down the barriers of the digital divide. On the flip side I do not agree with ridding of people to people sharing of information over the computer. It would, in my mind, erase all of the progress we have made dealing with digital literacy.
A more up to date version of the human lobotomy video which explains similar current bills being lobbied for and voted on in congress –
I was actually very surprised after reading these articles that digital literacy has a lot to do with us. Before reading these articles or even taking this class I thought that digital literacy was a basic meaning of being able to understand basic functions and definitions in a computer sense. Such as being able to pull up the internet and just being able to pull up a simple search on Google and be considered “digitally literate.” But there is a lot more to this. A great example was from the reading of Clive Thompson on the New Literacy.
Clive Thompson does a good job explaining how some social networking sites, texting, and facebook can lead to the decrease in the quality of work for school. For example I really liked his integration of texting with the loss of actually writing out words fully but then still being able to explain that it could be moving them in “cool directions” and helping students voice more than just writing everyday papers. Students coming up with haiku-like writings from twitter posts are what make me happy because it’s helping us rather than hurting by being digitally literate and up to date with twitter. In many ways I could relate to this article the most because I don’t agree with the internet causing for students to turn in lower quality grades.
To elaborate on this Wiki and the movie human lobotomy does a great job by showing how social networking devices made a huge voice in this world with enough power to even throw out existing governments in the middle east. This is huge! It’s a new step in our world that involves using the internet for voicing a countries feeling. Also I believe that being brought up in the digital world and being able to be a part of cool inventions such as the I pad and I phone that younger kids nowadays are starting to experiment with these inventions which can cause them to think more thoroughly at a younger age causing them to become even brighter as they age. It’s good to be a part of this Internet Age and hope it poises for more and more innovations.