home

=New Literacy=

New literacy is the idea that today's students (aka Digital Natives, a generation who has grown up fully immersed in technology, thus creating a type of learner who think, communicate and create in new, technology rich ways) need to be prepared for 21st century learning and jobs. Today, students need to not only be literate in Reading, Writing and Arithmetic (the traditional 3Rs), they must also have a new set of skills that will allow them to be ready for the 21st century and emerging new jobs, some of which do not even exist yet! New Literacy is the set of skills students need to think critically, interpret and translate data, communicate and collaborate. These skills not only use traditional methods associated with the 3Rs, but also utilize technology.

This idea of New Literacy is also reflected in the Common Core Standards NY State has chosen to adopt. I have been researching and piloting different technologies, many of which you will see in this wiki presentation, that address the technology components of the Common Core Standards. Here is a link to a wiki page I created as a workshop on Digital Tools for the Common Core: http://tech-adventures.wikispaces.com/Digital+Tools+for+Core+Standards.

As a first grade teacher, I see how my students already enter my classroom with technology skills and understanding I did not acquire until I was at the high school level or beyond. In order to reach them on their "digital native" level, keep them motivated, and help them expand on the 21st century learning skills they need, I have tried to incorporate technology in my classroom in a variety of ways. I hope this wiki will help you see how 21st century skills can be implemented into the curriculum, with even some of our youngest learners.

To learn more on how to integrate technology, please see my other wiki below: http://tech-adventures.wikispaces.com/