Education is the root to many a branch. The modern age as brought forth many new avenues our youth many travel down. These pathways may lead to an exciting future bearing much fruit while other paths may branch into a rotten, dead, and wasteful existence. I see our youth as a bud on a tree that is full of life and willing to bear the future in thier arms. However, these children have many trials and storms they must weather in their season. Without the support and guidance of their family, friends, teachers, and community the child's future becomes jeopardized. The teacher stands at the ready to hold onto, guide, nurture, support, and protect the student throughout his/her development. An under-nurtured spring easily falls underfoot, but with care and the proper guidance the sprig will become resilient and grow and produce good fruit. So is it with our youth; all children are not brought up in a nurturing manor, but that does not mean all is lost and that they are to be forgotten. It is my calling, as an educator, to aid our youth in their development and give them the confidence and resources needed to succeed and become a productive member of society. This is my role and my mission.
"A critical examination of gender, race, and ethnicity is oftentimes ignored in...traditional education." (Avila & Pandya, 2013) Even though the world may strive to place all people into the same mold, I will not disregard the differences of our youth. I will embrace the digital age and reinforce the use of critical digital literacy in the students' everyday life and instill the fact that social categories are still relevant in the digital world. (Avila & Pandya, 2013) Online, the user may feel anonymous, but we are not. The interactions between digital users can be very dynamic and educational. By engaging with others online and off, critical use of technology and composition provides opportunities and new ways to experience and interact with the world. (Avila & Pandya, 2013) Technology is invasive and can be overwhelming, but as a digital native I have full confidence that digital interactions and experiences can and should be coupled with face-to-face and physical experiences.
I see my students not as an empty slate, but as one filled with a plethora of ideas, ideologies, biases, truths, and possibilities. We, in America, are given more choices on how we wish to live our lives than any other group. Sadly, evil and sloth are among those choices, as such, educators must be both willing and able to contend with negative behavior and reinforce constructive behavior and thoughts. I work hard to establish and maintain a safe,courteous, fair, and controlled learning environment where the students' ability and actions are taken seriously, individual strengths are celebrated, and collaboration is used appropriately. Community is composed of every person no matter if he or she is constructive or not. Our youth have many choices ahead of them that not only affect their lives, but also the life of the community. We must aid in guiding and educating our future for the future's sake and the sake of our youth.
References:
Avila, J., & Pandya, J. (2013). Critical digital media as social praxis: Intersections and challenges. (p. 58, 79). New York, NY: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc.
Links to engaging critical media literacy activities:
Video demonstrating common types of digital literacy
Self-help site teaching digital literacy
Digital Literacy Self-test to identify strengths and weaknesses
Google's digital literacy and citizenship curriculum
Student discussions of digital literacy
No comments:
Post a Comment