New Media & New Literacies

     The recognition of new literacies has significant implications across several industries, especially in education. As a 4th-grade teacher, the impact these emerging literacies are having on my instructional practices is profound. After reading perspectives on digital literacy from ILA (2018) and Misha (2023), I was left with some unexpected takeaways that I will use to help mold and shape my craft as an educator who teaches literacy to the next generation. From the difference between digital fluency and digital literacy to strategies for implementation to perpetuating educational inequities, educators have a lot to dissect when investigating these new literacies.      Misha (2023) defines digital literacy as “the ability to navigate, consume, create and communicate online information appropriately in the digital world” and the word that immediately stands out is “appropriately.” Many students currently attending school have had access to iPads, Chromeb...

     New literacy is a concept that is a part of both my life as a teacher and as a mom. New literacies have been defined as “socially recognized ways of generating, communicating, and negotiating meaningful content through the medium of encoded texts within contexts of participation in Discourses” (Knobel & Lankshear, 2007, p. 24). This definition helps to show why we should be using a wide range of methods to communicate in both educational and family settings. New Literacies Through a Teaching Lens      As a 4th-grade teacher, I can create more inclusive and engaging lessons and activities for my students by incorporating new literacies into our curriculum. I can tailor my instruction to the different learning styles and allow students to express themselves in a way that is meaningful to them using visual, audio, and digital media. Some examples from my classroom include using slide presentations and creating green screen projects where we share our ...