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Teens, Technology, and Literacy; Or, Why Bad Grammar Isn't Always Bad
Are you bothered by the bad grammar, emoticons, acronyms, and poor spelling that are ubiquitous in cyberspace, and especially prevalent in teen communications? Do you lament that today's technologies are ruining the reading and writing skills of teens? Well, think again.
This author proposes that today's teens are actually exploring and developing new literacies, and learning to use technology in the most effective ways possible. After examining some of the technologies teens commonly use (IM, webblogs, podcast, games), Braun describes how these technologies affect reading, writing, and communication habits and skills; and how they are actually creating new communities of learning. Expand your perspective on what defines literacy, and learn how you can maximize the learning that teens acquire in using new technologies by integrating technologies into your programs and services. A must-read for librarians, teachers, and anyone else who works with teens in grades 6 and up.
This author proposes that today's teens are actually exploring and developing new literacies, and learning to use technology in the most effective ways possible. After examining some of the technologies teens commonly use (IM, webblogs, podcast, games), Braun describes how these technologies affect reading, writing, and communication habits and skills; and how they are actually creating new communities of learning. Expand your perspective on what defines literacy, and learn how you can maximize the learning that teens acquire in using new technologies by integrating technologies into your programs and services. A must-read for librarians, teachers, and anyone else who works with teens in grades 6 and up.
- GenresNonfiction
128 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2006
1 person is currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Linda W. Braun
12 books2 followersLinda W. Braun is an education technology consultant with LEO: Librarians & Educators Online. She provides training and consulting to schools, libraries, and other educational institutions on how to integrate technology successfully. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science, where she teaches courses on Web development and teen services. Linda has written books for ALA Editions, Neal-Schuman, Libraries Unlimited, and Information Today. She is also a TAG Team Tech columnist for Voices of Youth Advocates, and was blog manager for YALSA from 2006 through 2009.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 31, 2008
First of all, this book is written for an audience of librarians, so teachers looking for concrete ideas for their classroom will need to adapt some of the things presented here.
For someone who has read a lot in this field, there wasn't much that was new in this book for me. She covers the gamut of new technologies (blogs, podcasts, wikis, IM, even games) and how they might fit into the classroom. Her most interesting ideas, I think, involved creative uses of instant messaging and texting. Sending texts to remind students about homework or other class announcements is a good idea, as long as students are willing to release their numbers (and aren't paying per-text). I can see this being a great idea on a school-wide level, especially if the IT department could make it easy for teachers to send out mass texts (i.e., via a simple web interface). The author also discusses the use of IM for off-site class meetings or getting groups together outside of class. Another good idea, as long as parents understand the purposes for this and private chats/IM sessions can be set up. (I think parents would be most concerned to hear their students chatting or IM'ing as part of school--too many MSNBC "To Catch A Predator" reruns out there that I'm sure scare many of us as parents.)
The book is short and an easy read. The only part I was disappointed in was the section on gaming. While she taps into some of Gee's ideas about games and literacy, I don't think she fully explores the potential. But then, for a librarian games probably aren't a great source of possible curriculum; on the other hand, a history/civics teacher could see more potential in simulations like Political Machine or Civ IV.
For someone who has read a lot in this field, there wasn't much that was new in this book for me. She covers the gamut of new technologies (blogs, podcasts, wikis, IM, even games) and how they might fit into the classroom. Her most interesting ideas, I think, involved creative uses of instant messaging and texting. Sending texts to remind students about homework or other class announcements is a good idea, as long as students are willing to release their numbers (and aren't paying per-text). I can see this being a great idea on a school-wide level, especially if the IT department could make it easy for teachers to send out mass texts (i.e., via a simple web interface). The author also discusses the use of IM for off-site class meetings or getting groups together outside of class. Another good idea, as long as parents understand the purposes for this and private chats/IM sessions can be set up. (I think parents would be most concerned to hear their students chatting or IM'ing as part of school--too many MSNBC "To Catch A Predator" reruns out there that I'm sure scare many of us as parents.)
The book is short and an easy read. The only part I was disappointed in was the section on gaming. While she taps into some of Gee's ideas about games and literacy, I don't think she fully explores the potential. But then, for a librarian games probably aren't a great source of possible curriculum; on the other hand, a history/civics teacher could see more potential in simulations like Political Machine or Civ IV.
December 30, 2011
Literacy is discussed using blogs, wikis, podcasts and gaming as examples. I liked Braun's definition of literacy, and libraries and classrooms as virtual communities. Even though this book was written in 2007, literacy is important in the world of teens today and this book explores social networking in concert with teens' lives.
September 9, 2007
Really informative and helpful book offering tips for librarians and teachers on how to use an array of tech-y tools with your teens including blogs, wikis, instant messaging, podcasts. Explains how each tool aids and assists in increasing and adding onto the literacy skills of adolescents.
April 6, 2010
This is a good professional book for librarians looking for ideas to work with the 21st century learner uisng web 2.0 tools
April 29, 2010
Outdated. Too bad.
January 12, 2011
OMG. This book is such Dreck. I know, right?
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews