Technology is a central part of everyday life in the 21st century. This is due to the fact that technology develops very quickly and that we depend on it. We use digital media today which did not exist 20 years ago. As technology develops, we have to develop ourselves as well. This development can also be found at school. In the foreign language teaching classroom, fundamental changes in the ways of teaching can be found. Students need to learn different skills today than students 20 years ago. In order to address these new ways of teaching and learning, The New London Group created a framework; the pedagogy of multiliteracies. Multiliteracies describe the concept of the growing diversity of students and the growing connectedness of people around the world. Students have to be taught to be aware of all of these facts and they need to develop digital skills and competencies to be successful in their future.
The development of technology and the invention of the internet seem to change our ways of living fundamentally. The impact of technology does not only affect one’s personal life but also one’s life at school and at work. Computers were once very large and they were only used for calculating. Over time, computers became smaller and more powerful. These large and bulky computers developed for laptops and tablets. And as time progressed, computers became even smaller so they could even fit in a pocket. A device one could carry with them everywhere they go. Almost every person I know owns either a computer, a laptop or a smartphone. Most of these people own every single of the before mentioned devices. Nowadays, a computer is crucial for everyday life. Firstly, at home one uses a computer for entertainment, communication, creativity, and writing. Secondly, at work one uses computers for writing as well. In this case for communicating, creating worksheets, and plans. Thirdly, at school where computers are not integrated into the classroom very well. At my school, we had a computer room where we used the computers once in a while for research. Other than that the teachers sometimes used a smartboard, which are electronic blackboards. Technology is integrated into private and work life, so why should it not be integrated into life at school? For instance, students need to learn how to type on a keyboard, as opposed to only writing by hand. Consequently, students need technology at school for learning how to use it.
Technology allows its users to use digital media. Digital media have progressed and developed as well as technology. In particular, digital media have changed the way we communicate in our lives. Writing letters was a very common thing to do, but now emails exist. Emailing is an easier process of writing someone else a message. It is not as time-consuming and the addressee receives the electronic mail immediately. Additionally, forums and chatrooms developed to text messages and messengers. Text messages or messaging apps are today’s easiest way of contacting another person and sending them a quick message. Digital media have thus become a central way of communicating. Students at school need to learn how to use digital media and how to write using digital media. As a result, it is not sufficient anymore to teach students writing with analogue media.
Technology and digital media should be used for learning. At school, creating tasks can have different modes. These modes are linguistic, visual, audio, gestural and spatial. Combining at least to of the modes make the work multimodal. Students learn best when the work they are given or the work they have to create is multimodal. For teaching to be multimodal, digital media can be used. Using digital media, for example, a computer, a teacher can use visual and audio works and tasks. Consequently, giving students texts to read is not sufficient. In addition, students need to use digital media and multimodal work themselves. Creating videos and presentations on a computer is a way of achieving multimodal work. A variety of applications provide students with new ways of learning, especially foreign language learning. As a result, when digital media are integrated into the classroom, students tend to foster digital skills and strengthen their language and writing skills.
The aim of teachers is to prepare students to benefit in their social, community, and work-life. To reach this goal multiliteracies have to be seen as fundamental for writing. As technology and digital media have developed, writing has developed as well. Whether it be long or short texts, writing is essential for work and school life. Furthermore, integrating multimodal work in the language classroom, students can develop digital skills and strengthen language and writing skills. In conclusion, students appear to only succeed in their future public, community and economic life if they are equipped with these skills and competencies.
-Fabio
Your blog post is very well written and also detailed. You use a lot of examples which illustrate and support your arguments. I also like how you structured your blog entry. it starts with an opening paragraph and ends with a conclusion which wraps it up nicely. Furthermore, every body paragraph also has its own subtopic and a little conclusion at the end.
What threw me off a little, however, was the strong focus on technology. Instead of how multiliteracies change our teaching and learning, it seemed more to be about how technology changed our teaching and learning.
But overall I really enjoyed reading your blog post.
🙂