After working with my new technology, I realized that it was similar to PowerPoint in looks, but took different skills to work. The program would be very easy if I had all 4x6 pictures to put in the picture box and add a little caption under them. Because my scrapbook/slideshow was designed for pictures, I had to learn how to modify larger pictures as well as adding text on top of them. I used Microsoft Paint to do this, and realized that Microsoft Paint is not a very easy program to work with. It took me a long time to figure out how things worked. Because I was not familiar I had to use the Help engine frequently, which made me need to know how to read, and then locate where things are within the program. Once I got my pictures modified, the placing them within my new technology was rather simple, all I did was download the pictures and click them into the photo box.

Working with Environmental literacy showed me many ways of incorporating traditional literacy within it. There were multiple cases where I needed to know how to decipher data from graphs and charts. I also had to know how to gather data from texts, and relate the text to myself in how I can become a better “conserver of water.”

For students to be able to use this technology and study this topic, they would have to be able to know how to use Microsoft Paint, and how to download and upload pictures. At some points I felt a little frustrated with the program, so students will need to know that it takes time and patience to complete this project. Working with a new technology (or any technology for that matter) will have glitches, and we need to be aware of that from the beginning. If students know how to work with PowerPoint, they should be able to use my technology fairly easily.

Throughout this class, my conceptual understanding of literacy has changed. Before this class I thought of literacy as learning how to read, write, and speak. Now I realized that my original thoughts of literacy were only included within traditional literacy. The New Literacy project has taught me that literacy can be in many different forms, including many aspects of our lives. Some of these include environmental, cultural, and social literacy. The idea that literacy can broaden our understanding of what we are reading and learning about is different from my original thoughts of literacy. Before this class, these new literacies would be considered social studies in my mind. I thought that, yes, we can use literacy as a way to teach social studies, but learning about cultures or the environment is not literacy, it is social studies. I have learned, through this class, the importance of teaching these new literacies in my class. In the WheelerSwords article, they discuss how it is important to discuss cultural implications of language within a classroom. Within the article, it states that “A different response to language becomes possible once we recognize that language comes in different varieties, and styles, and each is systematic and rule-governed.” Throughout my schooling, I learned that there is one way to speak and write properly. Through this article and class discussions, I have learned the importance of making sure each type of language is addressed and deemed as important. Literacy is not just being able to talk and write in standard English, it can also include other styles of language as well.

Not only has this New Literacies project shifted my views on what I think literacy is, I have also learned the importance of using technologies that I may not be familiar with. Being able to view technology is also an important aspect of literacy. This new way of thinking has changed how I want to approach literacy in my classroom. People today are using printed paper less and less to practice literacy skills. Even books and newspapers can be computer based. It is important to encompass all types of technology to help broaden their knowledge of literacy.

By using different types of technology, I can also teach to a diverse number of learners. Students learn differently at different rates. By giving them multiple ways of learning, I can see what works well for some students, and what doesn’t work. Also students will be able to access different types of information within these new literacies which will appeal to different students.

I think that this technology and new literacy would help students get a better understanding of many GLCEs. For my language arts lesson, I used the GLCE about relating themes to personal experiences. Within Environmental Literacy, water conservation could be considered a theme where students need to see how water plays a role in their lives and how they can begin conserving water. The technologies can give students a nontraditional look on literacy that will be beneficial to them in their future.