Don’t Think Digital Media Literacy is Important? You May Want to Rethink That

Many teachers today worry that digital media may have a negative impact on students’ academic development as well as negate the importance of “traditional” literacy skills. However, digital media has not hurt the quality of "traditional" literacy skills for students today, rather it has built upon and expanded what it means to be literate in the 21st century. In reality, traditional literacy can be thought of as the building block upon which every other literacy is built, since many of the same skills that are necessary in order to make someone literate in the "traditional" sense are also needed to make someone literate in the "digital" sense.  Whether some individuals are willing to accept it or not, the new literacies of the 21st century are reflective of the times. Technology has changed the way that individuals locate, access, and send information, and as teachers we have a responsibility to prepare our students to be participants in this digital world.

   In order to empower students, teachers must recognize the digital media that students are already accessing and use those same tools in their classroom instruction. Teachers must accept the fact that students are going to access it and begin teaching them how to do so responsibly.

Students are choosing certain media formats for a reason, because they want to. Why not choose a platform that students are already interested in and use it for education? It seems like a win win situation to me.

Written by special guest blogger
Angela Wedel, High School English Teacher 

Email: angwedel33@gmail.com 

Twitter: @angela_wedel