Equipping Students to Effectively Adapt into Today’s World

Article: “The New Literacy,” By Sara Armstrong and David Warlick

Summary

How do educators best prepare their students for a successful future? Considering the context of the present age, it is crucial and the cornerstone of the article “The New Literacy” by Sara Armstrong and David Warlick. In the midst of constant change, students need to be armed with the ability to adapt and utilize skills able to be carried over to other tasks. Thus, “the best thing we can teach them,” say Ms. Armstrong and Mr. Warlick, “is how to teach themselves.” What does this look like? Fluent literacy— this includes the capability to interact with present-day information. In addition, an exchange is required, switching over from the 3 Rs of learning to the 4Es: 1) exposing knowledge (reading), 2) employing information (arithmetic), 3) expressing ideas compellingly (writing), and 4) ethics.” After examining the background of each and how to employ it within ones’ classroom, tools for exposing knowledge —necessary due to the exuberant quantity of knowledge accessible for students to sift through— are discussed and include the following: “finding information, decoding information, evaluating information, and organizing information. Lastly, specific examples of tools are examined. Thus, the purpose of this article is to lay a foundation for educators why the new literacy is essential and some ways to implement in one’s teaching.

Reaction

Stepping back to gain perspective is an excellent tool for building understanding. I see this as the purpose of this article, which helps educators to understand the shift that has taken place within our lifetimes. Not only does this increase our ability to recognize how our students’ lives differ from our own, but this also aids our ability in preparing our students for the future. Who would benefit from reading this? I think probably new and technology-novice teachers. What I took away from the article is that the most effective tool I can give to my future students is self-reliance as an ever-evolving student. This emphasis on creating self-motivating learners aligns with my educational philosophy. What greater treasure can a teacher bestow to her students then the ability to gather meaningful information, interpret it to gain understanding, and then be able to apply to real-world situations.

Reference

Armstrong, S., Warlick, D. (2004.) The New Literacy. Retrieved from Tech and Learning:

http://www.techlearning.com/printableArticle.aspx?articleID=47102021