A voice as a result of the digital revolution. The internet gives everyone a chance to have a voice, to be heard, to be read and to impact people they wouldn't otherwise. Here, in NYC I can read a blog about what its like to be a professor in
I see the freedom of information as an another powerful contribution of digital media to our lives. Our computers, are an unlimited pass to information about any given topic written anywhere anytime we simply have the desire to acquire it. As a result we are now better able to inform, and educate ourselves. Most government agencies have their records available online to the public. Anyone with internet access can retrieve them, and most of the time free of charge. The
Perhaps, one of the biggest ways in which the digital age has impacted our communites is the chance to connect with the world around us. E-mail, texting,twitter,facebook and youtube are only some of the options we have when communicating with the world. These new technologies allow us to keep in touch with family,friends and colleagues yes, but, they also allows us make connections beyond any political, geographical and even economic barriers.
Reading Responses
Readings for week of 7/1
Revised
1- Teaching Digital Rhetoric: Community, Critical Engagement, and Application:
This in an interesting article pointing out the many challenges associated with writing in a digital age, in particular from an English Studies perspective. To begin with, as this article points out never before, “ for instance, have writers had at their fingertips the tools to almost seamlessly integrate text and graphics (and, for the savvy, animation, audio, video, and other elements) and to dynamically publish and widely distribute the products of that convergence to virtual spaces." I could not agree more, the tools are there, in fact they come with our computers most of the time. If you have a mac, using these tools is even easier in my opinion. I have created some decent looking text but have not distributed it on the web before, so it seems I’m missing a major part of being digitally literate.
I’m concerned though, because along with this new freedom of being able to create pretty professional looking stuff,we also have the burden of having to master all these new tools and its not easy. They are frustrating at times, as a student of language and literature I'm concerned because although I'm concentrated on learning as much as I can to be a better student and writer of creative and academic topics I'm missing a crucial tool in my education as an English studies major. I'm missing the ability of being able to navigate and participate in the digital world. Reading and studying literature offline seems limting now, specially if I want to compete in a digital world. I either begin acquiring them, or I will be left behind. I feel pressured to go beyond the written page of an essay I write if it needs to have added visual or audio components. It is not sufficient for me to send the professor my essay over e-mail or hand in a paper copy anymore I must now also learn some web formatting, how to include hyperlinks and consider how it will look on a screen. It's exciting to learn new things, and I'm am always looking to improve myself, but I wonder it will have a negative effect on what I write.
“And, perhaps now more so than ever before, writing requires a deep attention to context, audience, and meaning-making across the multiple tools and media available to us as writers.” In essence writers needs to brings many things to the table when writing now. It's almost as if writers are now, illustrations, graphic designers and even amateur programmers aside from word masters. For me personally at the moment all these new digital tools are a little distracting. My writing experience feels more stressed now , as I write this for example, I wonder if I should add some links or pictures. When I sit in front of blank screen using a word processor I'm not really concerned with much more than the black and white text. I focus on language in this way. However, I wonder if this anxiety over new technologies is simply because I know very little of it, maybe if I was more versed in digital design it would come natural to merge the two.
Most importantly, I agree that as students and teachers we have an obligation to understand " the power of public discourse" in particular in the digital world. Nowadays it seems everything is being brought to the web, politics, education, entertainment, social activism to name a few, and if you are really interested in learning abut any of these topics you must also be able to navigate the digital world since some are only found online. For example, if you are interested in American government the white House release their statistics, findings and even speech transcripts on their site. If you wanted to read a particular speech twenty years it would very difficult if your were a regular person, now is would take you less than a minute to access this imformation from your computer. As a student and as a concerned citizen in the world this is invaluable.
'It is crucial that we are equipped to chronicle, to research, and to interrogate these technologies for the ways in which they alter the landscape of our pedagogy, our approaches to research, and our conceptions of how individuals write and publish together."
2 – Left out of the Revolution- Porter
Revised/Improved
"Desktop publishing became electronic publishing, and Internet publishing broke through the ASCII barrier. Now, finally, our graphically interesting pages could be published and widely distributed on the Web. This was a revolutionary moment first, in terms of graphic design and publishing-which Pat Sullivan(1991) saw as itself a significant stage in publishing history , and secondly, because of Internet based delivery(at first via one to one-email, discussion list communities, Usenet groups, synchronous chat, and MOOS-and then later the Web)" Porter, Why Technology matters to writing:
This is an interesting point from a writer’s perspective living in a digital age. A writer seems to have more control of his creation. Previously a writer would send away his piece and not really have a say on how it is distributed and definitely not part of the publishing. Nowadays of course they still a lot of that traditional way of getting public, but writers have more choices now and this a great benefit. Writers can create an entire book on their computer to the point that is almost ready for print, in fact it might never reach print. It can be distributed entirely online for a web or digital publication, in this way it is much more direct and the writer has more control.
The lack of or partial digital education in all levels of schooling leaves students out of the digital " revolution" as Porter calls it. One can be proficient in desktop publishing by creating great looking text, however unless you are literate in electronic and Internet publishing you are left out of the revolution. You are voiceless; you lack the language of the digital world, therefore unable to participate in the virtual dialogue that the Internet provides. This rang true to me especially in the past couple of years. I felt that knowing how to use a word processing program made me computer literate but this only allows me to have one way conversations, I can send someone my digital file as in a word format, but I’m not sure where to begin if I wanted to publish online. Frankly I see the Internet as this vast wild world and it frightens me a little. Primarily I feel powerless due to my limited knowledge so I enjoy just being consumer of it. I feel a little uncomfortable with the idea of publishing online. Of course I’m interested in pursuing a MFA and hope to be published one day, but somehow a book or paper article seems less interactive and I wouldn’t necessarily have to read what people thought of it, or really care. However, for this class not only do we interact regarding each others work but now I also has the wide open web world who also do the same.
Readings for the week of 7/13/10
3- Stroupe's Call to action in " Visualizing English"
Revised/improved
Stroupe’s essay is a fascinating call to action for all those in English studies. His plea begins with a message to revisit ” the text/media dichotomy” and a request for the ” discipline to decide not only whether to embrace the teaching of visual and information design in addition to verbal production”, “but more fundamentally, whether to confront its customary cultural attitudes toward visual discourses and their insinuation into verbal texts .” Interestingly before this class I was clearly separating the values associated with visual and written language. That is how I was thought for most of my academic life. Art was art, you drew pictures in art class and wrote in English class. Clearly with the growing popularity of digital language this is not longer the case, and I am beginning to seriously reexamine what I believe writing really is. Do these views change as a result the growing visual influence on text?. This is important to me not only as someone who is a consumer of online text but as someone who wants to participate in the English visual communication.
I really enjoyed Stroupe essay and I after a couple of reads I was really able to follow his arguments and he made a number of great arguments: To begin with Stroupe only confirms what all already know, whether we are participants or observer of the digital world, the Internet is an integral part of our everyday culture. “ As of 1999 there were 300 million publically accessible WebPages” obviously this is more prevalent than ever today. It seems really important almost critical that our English language curriculums take into account this phenomena. If they don’t we will all be left out what is occurring all around us. English studies would almost be irrelevant to the real world since it would ignore such a critical aspect of language and communication in society a downside that almost takes away from the social importance of English Studies. Most importantly, because students like I will not have to work soo hard to integrate the two in order to be culturally relevant because we would it would have been part of our education from the beginning.
Moreover, not only would English Studies benefit from this new approach to language, but we should understand as Stroupe suggests that the values associated with the two, have much more in common then we realize. In a great example Stroupe discuses the popular writing handbook “ Writing without Teachers” where the author Elbow states “ many people are now trying to become less helpless both personally and politically: trying to gain more control of their lives.” Likewise the other book he discusses is a Nesccape manual written by Elizabeth Castro “ Nestscape 3 for Macintosh” where Castro states that the web allows everyone can publish their information quickly and easily”, and ,”the web is history , a rising tide that lifts private citizens and huge companies” at a faster pace clearly both believe in the beauty of a personal taking control of their voice, of writing it and sharing with the world and how that can be freeing and empowering the only difference is the we now the web to do that with.
And, lastly Stroup makes a strong case for the merging of the visual and the verbal. Not necessarily as a separate or less critical form of English studies, but one in where the long praised attributes in the study of languages remain. Text conceived for an electronic environment can, and does have overlapping missions according to Stroupe as I pointed out before. He explains a point for me in this argument between the visual and verbal codes in the new “work paradigm” of web design and writing does not replace verbal literacy, but actually becomes more like a ” diverse amalgamation of literacies. This suggest that we don’t’ dumb down language or the art of writing as a result of combing the two but if we try it might even have a chance of being more powerful. I agree with Stroupe and English language studies must reconsider how they teach language in a 2010 digital world. Schools can no longer afford to ignore the big elephant in the room, it would only do a disservice to their students. We can and must incorporate the visual and digital into our passions for language and literature.
4- Week of Reading of 7/13/10
Rhetoric and Composition Wikibook
Browsing through this online writing book only confirmed one of the things I love the most about the Internet, because of the web information is accessible to everyone and not to a privileged few. Wikibook textbooks like this one are not only useful for the students or the school it was intended for, but anyone who comes across it on the web. There were many times in my early college life that I struggled to buy my books, and many times I would rely on the ones in reserve in the library. I can only imagine what a freeing academic experience many students would have, if many textbooks were available online, convenient and free.
I think the mission of Wikipedia “Wikipedia, the encyclopedia written by the people” where the “ free and open sharing of knowledge” is possible will have an even bigger impact in years to come as more and more people become literate in the world of computers. Clearly, there is a group of people like myself eager to join but only recently acknowledged that they were observing and taking in information but not creators of it. Another great advantage of the having Wikibooks like this is the interactive experience it creates both for teachers, students and even the creators. An online message board as part of textbook invites discussion and creates a sense of community. The advantage to this is that information is continuously updated, and hopefully improved. In addition as this wiki explain in its section “ Teaching with Wikibooks”, we should not necessarily fear its authenticity or accuracy, because we have the freedom to find out who wrote it and what audience it was intended form, in the same way we can find a paperback’s.
Moreover, I find it interesting that this textbook addresses the issue of accessibility. Accessibility is a major component of digital information simply because if you don’t have a computer, Internet access or know how to use one, you are left out. I’m not sure what to make of this yet, clearly this is problem because as more of the world turns digital there are parts of the world and people who will not participate in the digital dialogue. For most of us living in countries like America it isn’t that difficult too get a computer even an old one and get internet access. However, in third world countries this is extremely difficult and at times just impossible. I think we are a very privileged society where our main concern is teaching people how to us these new technologies since if you don’t have computer local libraries, school libraries and even community centers now have computers available to the public. I wonder how this will impact societies not as lucky as us, does this mean they are left behind even more? As the Wikibook for this assignment points out what good is this technology if people cannot access it. It seems that just as people have fighting to bring books and writing material to impoverished countries in order to educated kids they will soon be just as passionate about bringing access to technology to communities excluded from the cyberworld. In fact, I’m sure there are people who are passionate about digital literacy, and are on a mission to educate those less privileged.
Overall, I believe the sharing of information and free access to it can only better us a society.
Reading for the week of 7/20/10
5- “When Cellphone teaches sex education” Jan Hoffman
It only makes sense that in our day and age kids are able to reach out for advice via texting. My first impression is that it seems a little impersonal, and perhaps it is, but it seems I need to reconsider what I mean by impersonal to begin with. The reality is that some kids don’t feel comfortable enough going to an adult for advice, especially when it comes to sex. If we think about it, this can have the most impersonal results of all, and that is no human connection is made. Unfortunately, there are often devastating effects when teenagers are not correctly advised on the consequences of being sexually active. In fact, this is precisely the cause of high teenage pregnancy rates and the spread of STD’s among teenagers around the country. North Carolina is setting a great example in sex education, and as Hoffman (Director of a texting sex ed program in North Carolina calls it being “culturally appropriate” when it comes to providing an outlet that gives kids “ crucial and private information”. I think texting sex education has many benefits, in my opinion one of the most important is the privacy it provides its users. Teenagers would seem more likely to ask for advice if the shame, and embarrassment is eliminated from asking to begin with.
Anonymity gives a teenager struggling to ask questions about sex the freedom to be more honest, ask questions and express concerns that even adults have a hard time with. “Technology reduces the shame and embarrassment,” said Deb Levine, (Executive Director of a sex Ed texting program in North Carolina). On the other hand, there is a great challenge, and limitation to these new forms of communication present us with. We are now required to express ourselves with a fraction of the language we are normally accustomed to. We need to be brief, concise and robotic like in our answers, something that can be difficult to someone trying to inform a scared girl what to do when she has just found out she is pregnant. In fact, twitter gives you only one hundred and forty characters to send a message out and, although texting does not, our phone keyboards and small screens certainly do.
Clearly texting for sex ed is a brief and limited way to get information, but it is a great reference point that hopefully leads that confused kid to “real” help and attention if needed, “They are great for referrals and short answers to quick questions” Miss Swatson a texter at a North Carolina center states”. With this, the first step to educate and inform teenagers about sex has been taken, and that is getting a teenager to ask questions ideally from an adult with qualified information. Specifically an adult who will not take things personal, or shut down when their child communicates with them. Sex education outside the home is great in this sense, because it provides information regardless of age or sexual activity the teenager is involved in. Some teenagers will engage in sexually activity regardless of a parent’s believe, and sex education only gives them a chance to be in control of their health.
Perhaps, the most important sentiment behind this form of reaching to teenagers is, that the community needs to do whatever is necessary to get the information out there. “I think communicating with teens in whatever way they need to ask a question is important.” responds Ms Swatson to a young texter. If texting is a way to help by providing referrals or short concise information then we should support it. Clearly ignoring the topic of sex has not prevented teenagers from engaging in sexual activity, and promoting abstinence in my opinion is ignoring the sad statistics of rising teenage pregnancy rates and the spread of STDs.
Miscellaneous writings and observations posted on the course blog:
6 - Teachers
“One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child. ” Carl Jung
I have been thinking about our class discussion this past Thursday, and I believe the diverse set of opinions on what the teacher’s role is was very interesting. As a result, of emerging digital technologies teachers are much more accessible to students and vice versa. I see this as a tremendous benefit for both student and teacher. However, there seems to be some support for teachers to keep a distance from students for the sake of “respect” and “appropriateness.” Facebook, twitter, blogging, email are only some new forms of communication. These new technologies provide those teachers who truly care about their students the opportunity to go above and beyond as great teachers always have, regardless of technologies. It is my opinion that unfortunately not all teachers are of this nature, and sadly some(thankfully very few) are teaching for a paycheck it seems. We have all experienced having these types of teachers at some time or another in our lives. These were the instructors who just went with the motions of lecture and homework, you seemed to be just a name on a piece of paper to keep record of. Now, I’m sure these instructors are not necessarily bad people in fact they could be great individuals, but the point is, are they great teachers?, do they see their students as more than a statistic to meet?, or a curriculum to complete, I don’t know.
Thinking back to my academic life I have been blessed to have been taught by a great number of amazingly talented and dedicated teachers. My teachers went above and beyond their job description to make sure I understood something, to understand me, to understand where I was coming from, and as a result they were better able to teach me. If pedagogy must adapt to the times it is teaching, then it would seem that ignoring or not taking advantage of (course blog, e-mail, facebook or twitter) can soon divide great teachers from the not so great.
Jesse from our class discussion your students are very lucky to have you, and don’t change because I’m sure your are making a much bigger impact on their lives then you’ll ever know.
7- Just an observation: E-books
One of the biggest impacts that the online publishing world has given me is the chance to access texts I wouldn't normally have a chance to.
First, simply for economic reasons, I can't buy all the books I want, nor would I have the space for them in my tiny NYC apartment. Next, the convenience of immediate access and portability has led me to Guttenberg Project many times. I have used this site for many of the books I've had to read from my literature classes. Guttenberg has a great collection of literature in various file formats and even audio books. This is an invaluable resource for someone who enjoys literature. Now, I still enjoy reading an actual book and holding it in my hands. If you are holding a paper copy of a book you don't have to worry about battery life, or file formats. Of course, somehow returning to your favorite book on a screen does not have the same effect for me, yet. It is only those same those dog eared pages of my favorite books that have witnessed the joy and even tears I have felt while reading them, not a screen or a digital file.
Clearly e-books are taking over as Amazon's latest reports states, but is there a downside to this? Now that I have been in this Digital Literacies class for a few weeks, I believe there isn't a downside to e-books at all. People are just changing the way they read, just like the way people travel has. One hundred years ago people used horses and trains and now most people fly if they need to travel far. People clearly read but in a different format now, if anything maybe people can read more just like people can travel faster, and more frequently as a result of air travel. Moreover, as the Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa says, " literature has been, and will continue to be, as long as it exists, one of the common denominators of human experience through which human beings may recognize themselves and converse with each other, no matter how different their professions, their life plans, their geographical and cultural locations, their personal circumstances. ” a common denominator that I believe is carried into digital reading, don't you think?
Nice post, Bertha! Cool design, and interesting message.
ReplyDeleteThanks Professor Peele
ReplyDelete