Should students use digital media in class?

Should students use digital media in class?


Writing is a part of our daily life. In fact, people write every day:
They write a messaged, shopping lists or even work on their upcoming bestseller-book.
In these three examples, people use different media to write. One uses his
smartphone, another one his notebook and another one his computer. Through
technology, writing can also happen through other ways: Via voice recognition, people
can write down texts even though they’re not using their hands. Using different kinds
of media to write is one part of what the New London Group defines as “multiliteracies”.
The New London Group (1996) researched on the changes of technology through
globalization and how this affects education.
Since besides writing, technology has also become a part of our daily life, digital
media can also be used in class. Using multimedia in class can make writing faster,
easier and more enjoyable for students. For example, by using the computer, they can
get fast access to lots of information they need for their writing process. On the internet,
they can find for instance background information they need or illustrations that
improve their texts. Those texts can also be presented in many different ways:
Students can prepare a PowerPoint presentation, print out the text, present the text as
a blog post or read it out to the class.
All these aspects can be summarized under the definition of “multiliteracies”. As
globalization progresses rapidly and the use of technologies in all parts of life
increases, it is important that also in their writing process, students get in touch with
multiliteracies.

-Alexandra

3 Comments

  1. Lina

    Hi Alexandra,
    I really like your post on writing in the 21st century and can only agree with everything that you said! Since we live in a globalized world that is being digitized more and more, it is inevitable to use media in education, as well. However, as prospective teachers we need to acquire specific competences and skills regarding online education ourselves so that we can not only ensure a ‘multiliterate’ quality education but equip our future students with these kinds of skills so that they grow up into independent, self-reliable and reflected adults who can successfully participate in community.

  2. Lina

    Hi Alexandra,
    I really like your post on writing in the 21st century and can only agree with everything that you said! Since we live in a globalized world that is being digitized more and more, it is inevitable to use media in education, as well. However, as prospective teachers we need to acquire specific competences and skills regarding online education ourselves so that we can not only ensure a ‘multiliterate’ quality education but equip our future students with these kinds of skills so that they grow up into independent, self-reliable and reflected adults who can successfully participate in community.

  3. Lisa Huth-Ritzel

    Hi Alexandra, there are many examples in your text that are taken from everyday life and you also give ideas how students can be confronted with multilitarcies. I really like that!
    There is no structure of your text in paragraphs, which is confusing while reading the text.

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