Kevin Cronin makes important points regarding this matter of "literacy."
A few comments, questions. In order to "read" Kevin's message, I need to be able to use a computer with sufficient knowledge and skill so that I can get to his message, and get it on the screen where I can see it. I assume that knowledge and skill is part of what is meant by "computer literacy." Since I have succeeded in doing that, I am at least minimally "computer literate." I have not become computer literate, to the extent that I am, by taking courses on the computer in school or college or anywhere. Nor have my three sons, who are far more computer literate than I am. Now: my computer literacy brings Kevin's message into my home, on to my screen. And now I must use traditional textual literacy to decode the markings on my screen, turn them into language and meaning, see the flow of Kevin's reasoning, note the key points he is making and the structuring of them into a thesis, an argument, note where I think the argument falters, and so on. In the 21st century, my ability to engage in dialogue with Kevin and Andy and David and all here is determined by traditional textual literacy. A key question, then: If the schools teach students how to bring Kevin's words to their screens but they can't read them with understanding, has there been a tradeoff involved that is harmful to society? One possibility is that we have to rethink the ecology of education: what piece of education is assigned to the home, the neighborhood, the church, the school, and the other agencies of a society. It may be that other agencies, or even self-instruction, can teach the young to operate the radio, television set, the cell phone, and the computer, while we need schools to teach the far more difficult technologies of deep reading and writing. Steve Eskow [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Kevin Cronin Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2005 6:24 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [DDN] Regarding Literacy - Reading, Writing and Computers I am still troubled by some of the comments about the relationship between the decades of digital initiatives and some disappointing data about literacy. The digital initiatives have encouraged a great number of people to use computers in ways they did not previously contemplate, some to advance employment, others to advance their education or health, interact with government at all levels, others to advance their social needs and interact with friends, family in distant places. However, this computer literacy may be absolutely unrelated to traditional literacy concepts, still measured by reading and writing and capacity to use those tools to navigate the modern world. It's possible that great gains in computer or technical literacy, were caught up in a larger decline in traditional literacy, driven by factors like declining work opportunities for lower-income families and frustration with modern education systems, whether in big urban school districts or otherwise. For decades, America has valued literacy as a valuable end in itself. While literacy certainly enhances the quality of life and provides literate America with a tool to succeed, universal literacy is viewed as a goal in itself - everyone ought to be able to read and write. By contrast, computer literacy is generally linked to employment opportunities and economic success. Are people using these tools to help themselves get ahead? Digital initiatives don't succeed in the competitive funding world with the argument that people simply ought to be literate in the use of computers, like reading and writing. Can computer literacy be advancing? Yes, data says more people are using computers and going on line every year, even though I think progress can be faster. Is traditional literacy falling? Can both be true? Yes. Should government be doing more to address literacy in all its forms? Absolutely, but here's to be a better new year for us all. Kevin Cronin Cleveland, Ohio c: 216.374.7578 _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
