Exploring Digital Literacy Part II

Growing up in this generation forces not only myself, but all of those around me to be technologically inclined. Looking back to even second grade I cannot recall a time in which a classroom did not have computers and classwork online. When put to the test of knowing technology I would classify myself to know a significant amount of technologies. I can find my way through nearly everything on a PC. Microsoft office, Adobe Photoshop, and music programs like Itunes and Limewire are all easy to me and I am able to figure them out quickly. It is also easy to learn how to use different cell phones. New cell phones come out throughout the year all the time, and knowing how to use technologies makes it easy to adapt to the changes.

Although I am good at most technologies, there is one technological device that I just cannot grasp, and that is the MAC. I was taught to use a computer on a PC so there are just many functions that I cannot figure out on a MAC but I would like to learn. Even though I don't know how to use a MAC I would still place myself highly on the technological scale. When rating my technological advances I tend to compare myself to my parents. They seem to not know much about computers, cell phones, or anything of the sorts. So compared to them I feel like I know a lot about technology. Also compared to some of my friends we are on the same level of knowledge of computers and gadgets.

Assignment due 1/26/2010

The article that I read "Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading?" from the New York Times tries to prove to readers that whether or not individuals are reading print form the library or a web story, the bottom line is that reading is reading. Author Motoko Rich includes many different sources that prove that in some cases, reading over the Internet has actually improved people's ability to read. The purpose of this article is to prove that reading has evolved within this generation. The author shows this generation gap by saying "Young people 'aren't as troubled as some of us older folks are by reading that doesn't go in a line,'...". This quote proves that as time goes on the Internet is playing a bigger role in education and reading. Online reading is becoming more socially and educationally acceptable.



This article is mainly directed to those people who believe that if a student or any individual does not have a text book open in front of them, that they are not reading. This article shows that with the Internet, more kids and teenagers are finding more interest in reading, which in turn improves their reading ability. This article is full of both opinions and facts. Some people find it a lot easier to really get into a book and enjoy flipping the pages, but others enjoy being able to find further depth in the Internet.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/books/27reading.html