Thinking Hard

Detail: Write a brief definition of the term, 'new literacies' from the readings for your blog. Include a review of one website mentioned in the Callow reading.

The term 'new literacies' refers to digital literacies as they occur online or through messaging, sms, phones or computers. Generally, new literacies combine extensions of language through colours, graphics, sounds and symbols.

The rise of web 2.0 technologies such as audio podcasting, blogging and other share-based interactions through social networks has made fluency in new literacy an important stage in modern education and development.

Callow (2008), argues that through the sharing of new literacies through web 2.0 technologies and the related understandings, we can, as educators, better meet the current demands of students.

Flickr.com, the popular photo-sharing community website, provides an example of how web 2.0 technology can create an opportunity for students to share, view, review and discuss not only images but genres and periphery topics on a real-time basis as part of a global, social network.

From an educators stand-point, it is important that we understand the implicit values and problems, especially those related to false information and the lack of peer review, when including new literacies such as this site in the classroom.

Reference

Callow, J. (2008). New Literacies, New York & Web 2.0: a little knowledge is a helpful thing! SCAN, 27(4), 13-16.