Reflection on the module and implications for the future

"Excited". This was the word I used to sum up the module at Shirley Warren last week. The module has made me want to use new technologies and media within school. Prior to the module, although I was willing to use technologies within school, I was aprehensive about using certain material such as comics and graphic novels in the classroom, due to some of the content and my own engagement and lack of enthusiasm towards them. However, the module has challenged my thinking, and allowed me to see the benefits of harnessing such texts into the classroom.  It has allowed me to see that children will not only seek enjoyment out of such texts but  recognise that using such texts with children enables them to write in new formats developing new skills (Stafford 2009).

The module has also allowed me to learn new skills with new technologies. At the start of the module, I held the view that the use of powerpoint was very limiting and there was not much else it could lend itself to. However, as a result of the practical sessions, I was able to see that such programmes allow children to acquire new skills to create an array of things (Futurelab, 2010). The introduction of other Web 2.0 technologies that can assist learning in the classroom, such as Tagxedo and wordle have also raised questiones for me as to how far they can enable, motivate and possibly improve literacy in the classroom, which I aim to find out through my dissertation.

With everything we have learnt across the module my thinking has been challenged and thoughts and opinions have changed, and I now have a better understanding of technologies that can be used and the full potential of them this was reinforced by Tom at Shirley Warren. An implication for my furture practice is enabling children the oppotunities to enjoy and engage with the technologies they are growing up with in an environment that is safe and approved by adults (Lambirth 2003).

 

Futurelab. (2010) 'Digital Literacy Across the Curriculum: Digital Literacy in Practice [online] http://www2.futurelab.org.uk/resources/documents/handbooks/digital_literacy.pdf (Accessed 14/3/13)

Lambirth, A. (2003) ‘“They get enough of that at home”: Understanding Aversion to Popular Culture in Schools’ in Literacy & Learning 37 (1) pp.9-13

Stafford, T. (2009) ‘Teaching Comics’ in Duncan, D. (2009) 'Teaching Children’s Literature: Making stories work in the classroom' Abingdon: Routledge