What do they need a computer for? ... Digital Literacies for the information age

I remember when I was in Year 5 going home with a note from the teacher requesting that my parents supply a calculator for use at school. My Dad went off! I remember the ranting - it was all about the cost, and aren't your teachers teaching maths any more, and this is the end of kids being able to add up, and no one will get a job - the end of the world was coming it seemed. However, he bought me a calculator (and one for himself too) and I was so proud of it. I kept it in it's vinyl case and was amazed at what it could do. I had it for years (and wish I had it now as it would be an absolute relic!).

These days kids carry around a plethora of devices - iPods, iPads, phones, and lap tops - and the majority of these have the power to tap into and create more information than has ever been possible in the history of the human race. Being digitally literate is an absolute necessity in today's world - we are no longer talking about the future - in the words of William Gibson 'the future is already here'.

From  Educational Technology

So what are digital literacies? This info graphic sums it up beautifully.

Actually come to think of it - we've always needed these skills. I'm pretty sure my Year 5 teacher told my Dad I'd learn some of these skills using a calculator!

What is different about today is that kids need to be able to engage with these literacies using all the information at hand. In today's world, it's nigh on impossible to demonstrate initiative and entrepreneurialism or to collaborate across networks (for example) without a device in your hand. People without these skills may still be able to live happy and productive lives but the extent to which this is possible will be extremely hampered.

Today's modern classrooms encourage students to learn and demonstrate their progress by engaging in these literacies - and usually through the use of technology, the Internet, and information and idea sharing and construction. Teacher's work changes every day and it's a special teacher who can keep up with how kids are learning. I'm thankful to work with the best of these at Peregian Springs - teachers who truly believe in the power of technology, information and thinking; teachers who are not scared to set the boundaries and let kids go; teachers who can say 'I don't know the answer to that and let's find out together'.

Technology in classrooms has enriched all our lives; in many ways our jobs have never been more difficult but none of us care about that when we see kids developing vision, global stewardship and optimism through the practice of self-regulation, agility and pure grit. Technology brings the world into our students' hands and we have an imperative to ensure they have the skills and dispositions to harness the power and privilege that it brings.

What to do in this weather...

If you are like me, you are probably quite affected by the weather. On a sunny day I feel optimistic and uplifted. Warm sunshine imparts a general feeling of wellbeing. Rain, clouds and cool weather leave me feeling somewhat deflated and at times, quite gloomy.

I have always found that connecting with others generates the same feelings as sunny days - I don't mean connecting on the Internet such as Facebook and email. I mean real connection involving a warm bodied person who laughs along with you, gossips and tells stories.

Games are often at the root of all connection between humans. As a youngster my Grandma taught me how to play 21; a little unorthodox - but my skills and fluency in adding and subtracting numbers to 21, remembering what was left in the deck, and strategising about what Grandma had in her hand was phenomenal. Games were played in our home a lot - Monopoly, Scrabble, draughts and chess were the order of the day. I also remember Boggle, Battleships (my brothers loved that), Mousetrap, Pictionary, Uno and Four in a Row. Playing games was great fun and it taught us kids a lot about cooperation, being a 'good' loser, and the place of competition. We would laugh a lot, look at each other's faces, practice 'give and take', use our manners, and would usually be sitting around a table talking about other things as we played.

On the weekend I read about some research into the educational power of parents*. A group of 125 parents were asked to play a board game one night a week for four weeks with their children. The results were stunning - parents and teachers reported improved concentration, social interaction, and cooperation with siblings. (Doesn't every parent want this last one!) Playing board games also boosted patience, teamwork, sharing, communication, sporting behaviour, critical thinking skills, and fluency in maths and spelling. Family relationships improved and parents were amazed that their children did not need to be glued to the TV or Nintendo.

Parent engagement in their child's learning and development takes many forms - and if you are interested in giving your child's learning, manners, compassion, play habits, kindness and thinking skills a boost, you can't go wrong with a deck of cards and a game of 21! (Perhaps draughts might be a bit more politically correct these days.) And let's face it - our current weather system is certainly giving us plenty of reasons to stay indoors and enjoy the company of our family.

These days I still play games; many on my iPad. These are often designed to play alone or against the machine itself. I still find a way to interact with someone else, even if it means posting a 'Help' on my Facebook page for a 4Pics 1Word puzzle.

* Herald Sun, Wednesday 19 August 2009, p 27