NetSmart covers five new types of literacy: Attention, Crap Detection, Participation. Collaboration, Network Smarts. In it, Howard Rheingold gives specific aspects of these literacies and how they should we should improve upon these skills.
This means that we as educators need to recognize our own literacies and work to improve them. Even more, it means that we need to consciously teach these literacies just as we would with written literacy and numeric literacy.
One thing that interested me was how much the skills under Attention overlapped with some of the specific skills I do already teach my students. Every week we practice “Concentration” as a skill that can be improved by playing a game that focuses on ignoring distractions outside of our control. We, as a school, have also incorporated Mindfulness into our curriculum and have had coaches come in to talk about Attention and noticing things in the world around us.
I’ve actually made some intentional changes to my own participation after reading this book. I’ve played a game with a rather small community for quite a while now. Like most games, they have forums where players discuss game elements but also other things going on in life. After reading, I made a concerted effort to participate in the forums for that game posting in various sections at least a few times a week.
For collaboration, we have our large end of year project the Global Awareness Technology Project. I plan to include several mini-lessons that focus on how to work with group members and target shared goals over personal interests.
I've also been thinking a lot more about collaboration as well. Because I am the only German teacher in my building, I have a lot of freedom to do my own thing, which is both a relief and a challenge. This year I've been co-designing a unit with a teacher at another school, and Google Drive has been a total life-saver. It's so much easier planning with a friend and sharing ideas. Definitely something that I'm trying to incorporate into my instruction as well.
ReplyDeleteHi Will! I agree with your comment about teachers recognizing our own literacies and working to improve them. If it wasn't for being in this graduate cohort, I really think I would have just remained obvious to mine. I'm thankful to have the knowledge now and apply it not only to myself, but also to my students.
ReplyDeleteI think we forget that we need to recognize our own literacies. Our students spend so much time with us it's important or them to see us working on them. Attention stood out to me also and I felt it was the first I could tackle, but participation is probably the one I will struggle with. I always feel like someone else will jump in, and say the same thing, but if I want my students to learn to be net smart I too need to start becoming more net smart.
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