Digital Literacy: How Would You Teach It?

Writing 150 Free Write 1/30/13

2) From Virginia Heffernen
1. The way my teachers in elementary, middle and high school could have better prepared you for the tech requirements in college was  give us detail or ideas on what kinds of tech we would be using or have someone that is an expert who specialist in the tech and show us.
2. The kind of technology I anticipate having to use in my chosen career field is different program things and working with electronic circuits. Do I think my schooling here at Oakland will prepare me for that and many other things in my field in the future.
3. Yes I do feel better writing in a more relaxed setting because there are no distractions around to get me off track. Another reason why I like it is that there is no pressure and I can go off my mind and just write however I feel rather happy, sad, good or bad. Because not everyone can just go to a different place with a lot of noise and just write what on the top of their heads and just write about anything rather it’s a paper (rough or  final draft) for a specify class or just writing to express themselves. I also wouldn’t be over thinking anything I can just be myself and be calm to write rather a blog, song, poem, etc. it’s just a good thing to be good in the environment with just yourself and maybe some music to get ideas going to better yourself with anything regarding writing projects. Another reason I like writing in a relaxing setting because it’s in general a relaxing place no one wants to be in a busy environment to think and write if a person is more relaxed in a setting that fits them then a lot can be accomplished with anything dealing with homework or other things and rather it’s myself or someone else no one wants to be stress out, yell at, or pressure to meet a word and page requirement but not caring how much they write or how long it is.

4. If I was a science teacher I would attempt to have different scientist come in and help with projects and give detail on how to do certain thing that way my students don't mess up. Also give detail on what they do as their profession.
 5. I do agree  with the main thesis of education needs a digital upgrade because in school nowadays certain student will be doing work that hasn't been invented yet and it would be better if teachers at least gave example on what the students want to get into in the future. Also try having someone come in that specialists in something that people would be working on where the students can see hands on.

Literacy Narrative Timeline

Literacy Narrative timeline

·         I was born on December 31, 1991

·         My first words was “mommy”

·         At the age of 3 my father and mother got me influence into reading books and music

·         One of  my favorite books was Green Eggs and Ham

·         In the 2^nd grade a teacher named Ms. Harris got me more influenced into books having me and others read all different kinds

·         At the age of 12 I got influenced with music and art by uncle’s

·         My friend Deonte and I began making a couple of drawing and made them into small comic with different funny stories

·         In the 9^th grade a music teacher continued to influence me with all different kinds of music rather it was classical or modern music of today

·          At the age of 16 I start working with this program called reason (installed on pc) it took time to get use to (also wasn’t always on it as much)

·         At  ages 17 and 18 I work with more music program(that was install on my pc) and help make beats for my cousin who is a rapper and a friend named Brian with some music for his poem/rap

·         At ages 19 and 20 I had to start over with another program when it came to music

(beats) and do all my beats over since I had a broken flash drive and I went backing to drawing different things (ex. Flowers, cartoons, people, cars)

·         Now I slowly switching back to music (beats) from art and in the future I am majoring in electrical engineering and some how use these things with my major

Summary & Response

1.      Literacy was important to Sherman Alexi because it save his life to where he did not want to be like the others but be different and that he taught his self to read all different kinds of book rather comics or magazines and try to teach it to other students like himself that don’t think they can. I agree that it was essential for me to learn how to read and write. From my experiences I had to learn how to read and write and not to be like some that don’t know how to and it would help me even more rather I was in school or not and if I want to become a write or an artist. It was also important to because it help me better understand what I want to write about rather it was imagination or personal and for read to make sure it was clear for others to understand and myself to make sure that there was no mistakes happening.  
2. Yes it was linked with my cultural identity just as Amy Tan’s was in her story.
3. The literacy narrative that I am identify with most is personal literacies. Because I have had many different people that has had positive influences on me rather is a teacher or family and friend they have helped me.
4. What it means to write a circular narrative is to have certain plot point repeated in the story to make sure that the person has a clear understanding on what it is about. Yes I do see the technique employed in any of the narratives we read with the theme they try to get across.

Why writing is important

My career goals are to graduate at least atop of my classes and to get a bachelors degree in electrical engineering also to start a business with two of my closes friends or a business of my own. I would have to use writing and communications to become successful by communicating with a lot of different people to tell them what my business is about. When it comes to writing I have to make sure that my writing is clear and understand rather it is on paper with detail instructions on what to build or how to build something or on blue prints to show which part goes where. The kind of writing I’ll have to do is straight forward and making sure that the designs I do are clear to others. My writing and communication skills would have to improve by getting a better understanding of where I am as a writer and communications. For example I am an ok writer but I know that I need to work on writing to help better myself in the future career goals that I have. Also when it comes to communications I have to gain a lot more confidence to talk to people to tell them my ideas and plans for what I would want for a design. For example I am more of a shy person when it comes to communication but for me to be successful with communication again I would have to have confidence to get my point across for those that I am working for.

Hourihan: What We’re Doing When We Blog

Wrt 150 Free Write 1/14/2013

1. Some features of a blog is that we don’t need to produce a content of a certain length to meet a page requirement, and can be one sentence or several paragraphs. This differ from print sources by having fresh information at the top of the page to show updates rather than scan throughout the page to see of something has change or something new as been added.
2. Because blogs used to mean a personal online diary then after the events of September 11 happened there was more like a web journal that comments on the news or have different theories on how certain things happened with different types of evidence. 
   3.  I think that keep a blog for this class can be advantageous by keeping up with what classmates are doing and having a responds to something they had posted rather long or short to agree with that point they blogged about or a disagreement that topic on their blog. Disadvantages that could come with having a blog in this class are that some people might not use it as much, or wouldn’t want to keep up to date on what the class is on their blogs.  4. Blogging you can write entries, add or change different materials to you topic on your blog. Publishing printed material ready for others to read and have other review your work.