The Future of Literacy

This is a very interesting reading because we can all relate to it.  I feel that our generation uses computers and technology to their full potential.  The reading promotes the usage of our new technologies by giving examples of how they have helped us with literacy.  We don't always have to learn literacy through big text books with small print.  Think about how much you use technology today for your school work and social life.  Now imagine not having access to any technology.  Do you think you would be more or less educated?  

This reading is promoting the new upcoming technologies that our society is adapting to.  Although some people think that technology has had a negative effect on our new generation, this reading proves otherwise.  The writers argue that we “compose meaning not only with words by also with digitized bits of video, sound, photographs, still images, words, and animations” (183).  This means that the millions of programs offered through electronic devices can influence literacy positively just as much as reading from an old paperback book.  Although learning from the computer is much different from learning in a classroom it can be argued to have a better outcome.  For example, Brittney, a middle class girl in a Catholic family, shares that she feels her experience from the computer has taught her more than what her school has taught her.  She explains that since she genuinely enjoyed using the computer it gave her a bigger motivation to learn from it.  She used the search engines on the web to give her fast information about topics she needed research on.  Brittney took advantage of the new technologies, which could be the cause of her success in school. 

            The writers also argued that Danielle, who lived in a middle class, midwestern family, learned literacy skills such as “visual, kinesthetic, and interactive components of gaming” through playing computer games.  I agree with this statement.  Computer games can have a positive effect on learning skills, if played at a reasonable amount.  There are small skills needed to succeed at computer games such as strong hand eye coordination which can somewhat help you with life today in our society.  Since our population is beginning to adapt with the new technologies they are important to learn in order to fit in with reality.  What’s the harm?