Week 3 - Introduction to the Concept of New Literacies

Assignment #1: Theory in Practice
     All three articles discussed the importance of new literacies in digital age.  The rapid change in technology made implication to the change needed in instruction, assessment, professional development, and research.  For example, as internet has rapidly enter nearly every classroom worldwide, it means there are demand to include technology in literacy classes.  In order to prepare for upcoming trend of new literacy, there should be sufficient staff development for teachers to adapt new literacies into the curriculum.  Many studies has proven that technologies improve students' learning.  On the other hand, teaching with new technology also give teacher burden as it requires additional work and time.  Nevertheless, it is teacher's job to prepare students in the new literacies of 21st-century technologies for their future.  Once teachers have enough experience in integrating technology into lessons, teacher won't need to spend as much time preparing lessons.  New literacy can gain much greater engagement from students and thus teacher can see students with much bigger achievement from it.


Assignment#2: Minds-on “New Literacies Definition and Components”

• Which ideas from the video reflect what the ELA teachers you interviewed are currently doing to integrate technology with their literacy instruction? 
• -The ELA teacher I interviewed would use s art lard to play YouTube video to review some vocabulary words and the meaning. Then she would encourage students to use those new words learned to apply on their creative writing.  
• How can you help change their instructional practices to include the use of technology and the Internet in their literacy and content-area curriculum?
• -I would suggest she assign students with partners to help each other record videos  students' reading of their own writing using SeeSaw app from iPad on.  Students can even share their videos to their parents. 

• What professional development and/or resources will they need in order to make these changes?
• -the teacher will need to make sure she has sufficient iPad with wifi access. She also needs to learn how to use SeeSaw app in order to teach her students.
• What ideas do you have for grouping students so they will have equal access to technology in the classroom?
• -students can group into 2 to 4 students a team to take turn recording videos of each other using the shared iPad .

Week 2 Common Core Standards for Language Arts and Literacy

Assignment #2 & 3 - Understanding Common Core and ELA Instruction

Before Common Core State Standards are set, each state has different expectation, and the overall teaching is too broad that there is no alignment among all states.  By 2014, most states agreed to set one set of standards on Math and English with Common Core.  For English, Common Core State Standards are broken into 4 sections: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening and Language which aim to prepare students on knowledge they should know before going college and get a job.

For example, below are of the key concepts that would help students to be prepare for college and find find a good job:

Reading: read closely, make logical inferences, cite specific textual evidence and complex literary and informational texts.  students should gradually grow their reading comprehension from simple to complicated text as well as increase number of connections among ideas and texts with textual evidence and reasoning.  Students should also read informational text to be prepared for real life when they are working.

Writing: read something and write about it, write arguments, write informative/explanatory texts, draw evidence from literary or informational texts and assess the credibility and accuracy of each source.  Students should have the ability to plan on what they want to write based on what was read, revise and publish in different types of writing forms such as arguments, informative/ explanatory texts, and narratives.  Students should know how to write and cite based on their informative text reading.

Speaking and Listening: range of conversations and collaborations, clearly and persuasively, and adapt speech to a variety of contexts.  Students should gradually improve their interpersonal skills and oral communication through expression, listening carefully to ideas, integrating information from different sources such as oral, visuals, and media, etc.  Students should learn how to present their ideas persuasively.

Language: conventions of Standard English, knowledge of language, and vocabulary acquisition and use.  Students should build up their vocabulary words and phrases so they can apply correct vocabulary to express themselves professionally.

Assignment #4 - Understanding how technology is used to support ELA instruction

When I observed lessons, I saw teachers used technology to integrate in their teaching to facilitate young learners' language and literacy development.  Some technology used are:

Youtube videos - let students watch songs video and sing along repeatedly to learn new vocabulary and understand its meaning.

SeeSaw App - let student partner to help record video of a student reading their own writing.  Students can share their video to their parents easily.

Some challenges in applying technology is if the classroom settings can supply the software/hardware sufficiently so each student can be benefited.  Time management may be challenging too if the teacher and/or students are not too familiar with the technology.

Self-Introduction

*Please click on below link to see my homepage for other assignments:
http://edla615languagearts.blogspot.hk


Please see below the link to my Voki:

Karrie's Voki

 you were to write a book about yourself, what would you name it? 

If I have a chance to write a book, I will name it "Just go for it" to inspire people to pursue opportunities in front of them if they think it's right for them.

Tell us one of your favorite joke.

Patient: oh doctor, I'm just so nervous. This is my first operation.

Doctor: Don't worry.  Mine too.

Tell us what subject you teach, years of teaching, and how far you are in the Teacher Education or MSIT program.

I am working in a non-education related job now, but I once taught kindergarten students which I enjoyed a lot.  I am half way through my Master of Childhood Education program.  Hopefully, I can finish the program by summer.  

 How much do you know about teaching language arts? 

Language Arts includes writing, reading and listening.  So I look forward in learning some skills to help improve students Language Arts skills. 

 How much do know about "new literacies?" 

I am not sure what "new literacies" means.  I think it may be a new name of literacy in a digital technology era.  

What are your concerns about taking this course?

I am concerned about time management among work & business travelling, child-care and school assignments.