Tech Literacy and the Marginalized

What sort of literacy is needed in the digital age? 

The ability to "manuever" between discourse communities effectively- this means a knowledge and understanding of audience, motivation, and intent for communication. A critical understanding of what communication is and what it entails is even more necessary during this digital age as it helps to ameliorate 21st century issues like digital citizenship, digital ethics, and interpersonal empathy. 

What are the characteristics of a technologically literate person? 

A technologically literate person would have a questioning and curious spirit that is motivated to understand and "figure out" different aspects of the digital world.  This person is able to don the "appropriate costume and instructions on how to act and talk so as to take on" (Gee, 1991, 3) the role of a person who is technologically literate. This means they use technology appropriately, work with technology willingly, and seek to understand "newer" technologies. 

How can we best teach technological literacy? 

We teach technological literacy by fostering minds to be questioning, curious, and critical. Technology literacy, then, is a by-product, not the object of the teaching. 

What are the greatest problems that technology causes? 

The greatest problem that technology causes is a widening of the educational and accessibility divide.  Those with the means, education, and motivation to obtain and use technology will just perpetuate more need for technology further separating those of the "haves" from the "have nots".  Too many students from the "have not" category emblemize this widening divide in the classroom; as they struggle to understand and navigate using a mouse, drag-and-drop technical skills, the "haves" are revising, editing, and discussing second and third draft of a writing- or supplementing the math objective of the day with educational games and activities since the online required work is already completed.  The divide of skills between the have and the have-nots widens due to technology (availability and perceived affordability). 

What are the greatest benefits of technology? 

I teach in a very unique situation.  I teach the demographic of student who cannot attend classes due to disability or illness (physical, psychological, social). The unique nature of my program, Hospital Homebound and Alternative Education Programs (HH), proves an interesting challenge for educators in that technology is the only gateway through which learning can happen for this specific demographic of student.  These students are homebound in the most literal of definitions- they may not leave the house, hospital, or detention center rendering the only way to teach them is through technology.  When this program was first established, the most accessible technology was the telephone.  Think of the type of instruction that can be facilitated with a telephone alone.  Now, with access to internet, we, the instructors, are able to use programs like Adobe Connect and Google Classroom in order to provide a more well-rounded, multi-modal education to our already disenfranchised demographic.  This allows the teacher to create more of a sense of community for the student; while the instruction is able to be more diverse, so is the ways in which the student can reach the class objectives.