Although reading the New Media and Literacy section of “Old Media, New Media, and Knowledge” by J.D. Applen was interesting- but I must admit, my brain has turned to mush. However, he does make some interesting points about how media has completely reshaped and expanded literacy. And if you know anything about me, you know that I bring nearly every topic back to education. As a future educator, I couldn’t help but wonder how Applen’s discussion of media’s impact on literacy can connect to teachers, students, and education.
Now, I have already written a blog about Technology in the Classroom and how it enhances learning, but this time, I want to focus on how this transformation has impacted the way kids are taught and learn literacy skills. After speaking with some seasoned elementary educators about this topic, I gained some valuable insight that I’m super excited to share. Let’s get into it!
The Shift from Traditional Literacy to Digital Literacy in the Classroom
A key takeaway from my conversations with teachers was that literacy is no longer just decoding words on a page. It’s now a concept that includes navigating complex digital spaces, engaging with multimedia, hyper-analyzing visuals and audio, and even creating digital content. These new literacy skills require a higher level of thinking, demanding learners to be adaptable and critical thinkers. Although these skills are necessary in today’s world, traditional literacy skills are not being demonstrated by the young children. But could this be due to new media?
It’s All About Balance!
If parents and educators focus on teaching digital literacy to children without reinforcing foundational reading and writing skills first, it’s no surprise that some children struggle with skills like speaking, reading, and decoding words. If kids primarily have books read to them through a screen, are they really learning how to read? Or are they learning how to sit quietly and listen?
By no means am I blaming educators for the decline in students’ literacy skills. As a whole, technology has transformed education in ways that are oftentimes completely out of their control. However, I do wonder what the outcome would be if teachers went back to the total basics of literacy education. If core literacy skills are mastered before introducing digital tools and skills, would there be an improvement in children’s literacy skills?
Using Technology to Enhance Teaching, Not Replace
I think there’s value in educators finding a balance between traditional literacy and new media literacy. It’s not fair to expect students to excel in new media literacy skills that require critical thinking and adaptability if they lack fundamental reading and writing skills. Technology should be used as a tool to enhance literacy learning, not replace it. When implemented effectively and intentionally, digital media can be an incredible tool to reinforce skills rather than overlook the core literacy skills needed for students to advance to gaining new media literacy.
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