Week 1:

▪Literacy in the 21st Century/Popular Culture

Do you see the increased use of technology by children as a positive step forwards?

I do in some ways. Being skilled in the use of technology is a fundamental skill needed for work, communication and even pleasure nowadays so children need to grasp technological competence at an early age so they can operate devices effectively, and then also apply these skills to any different kinds of technology they may encounter in the future.
However, I believe that increasing usage of technology is only acceptable if it does not take precedence over reading and writing; traditional literary skills. Increasing use of technology should not be separate from learning how to read and write but it should be used to support it.   

Is this an inevitable outcome in our increasingly digital society or is it something to be resisted, especially within the classroom?

I believe this is inevitable as part of the purpose of the school is to equip children with skills and knowledge they will need for later life and technology plays a important role in our society. I do not believe it should be resisted, but it should not replace other areas of learning.    

Where do you stand at present on using new technologies and media within English teaching?

I believe that new technologies and media support English teaching as most of our form of communication occurs digitally nowadays as opposed to pen and paper, e.g. for writing emails and essays. There are also many fantastic online resources which can support English; a personal favourite of mine is an app called ‘My Story’, where children can create their own storybooks by adding photos, text and even voice. However, traditional methods of learning how to read and write should not be made less important in classroom learning.  

What do you perceive as the possible challenges of this module for you personally?

My biggest challenge will be understanding how various forms of technology work and how I can combine English and technology together to ensure children are becoming literate in being able to read and write but also digitally literate.