Author:
Multimodality
In the 21st century, students need a diverse set of skills to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Essay and report writing are examples of traditional literacy that are still valuable because they lay the groundwork for critical thinking and effective communication. However, educators must need to incorporate media literacy, digital literacy, information literacy, and cultural literacy in addition to writing into their teaching methods. Using problem-solving exercises and real-world scenarios can help evaluate students’ capacity to use their knowledge in real-world situations. Trelease (2002) described that (as cited in Boscolo et al., 2021), the incorporation of interactive technology into anatomy instruction appears to be beneficial since it fosters independent learning, problem-solving skills, and mental flexibility. The social construction of identity, literacy, and education was emphasized by Hazard (2019), who also emphasized the connections between these constructs in larger social settings. These approaches to education and assessment are essential because they enable young people to take control of their living conditions and, by extension, of a part of their own identity construction.
Through the incorporation of multiple literacies into their teaching, educators enable students to develop into flexible and adaptive thinkers who are ready to succeed in a world that is constantly changing. Canoso et al. (2020) (as cited in Wang et al., 2022) stated that students are the main body of learning, and teachers should help them invest in the spirit of ownership and realize their own value in the process.
It is crucial to modify assessment techniques to align with these literacies to measure student learning and development effectively. Exams should measure students’ abilities to critically analyze digital content, interact with media in a positive way, and communicate effectively across a range of media in addition to their traditional writing abilities.
Educators are crucial in helping students develop their identities and skill sets, as well as in teaching them how to integrate a range of literacies into their lesson plans and assessment methods. Teachers may create an environment in the classroom where students feel empowered to achieve in a world that is always changing by acknowledging that identity, literacy, and education are socially constructed.
Traditional literacy abilities are essential for academic achievement, in my opinion as a student. I learned how to gather research, organize arguments, and present ideas clearly by writing essays and reports. These are fundamental skills that have helped me in many areas of both my personal and professional life. Nonetheless, I understand how important it is to integrate new literacies into my teaching strategies as a 21st-century educator. To navigate the abundance of information available online, assess sources, and separate reliable material from false information, students need to be adept in modern literacies in today’s digital environment.
My goal is to provide students with the necessary abilities to succeed in the digital age by incorporating these new literacies into my teaching. For instance, I include courses on the creation of digital media, where students learn how to make and evaluate multimedia content. In addition, I stress the value of educating students digital citizenship, how to interact with technology and online networks in an ethical and responsible manner. I employed digital literacy while I was a teacher in my native India. It helped my students understand the three-dimensional geometry shapes, which I was unable to identify because my teacher used a blackboard when I was a student. In my own teaching, I have moved more toward project-based evaluations where students must use what they have learned in practical settings.
References
Boscolo-Berto, R., Tortorella, C., Porzionato, A., Stecco, C., Picardi, E. E. E., Macchi, V., & De Caro, R. (2021). The additional role of virtual to traditional dissection in teaching anatomy: a randomised controlled trial. Surgical & Radiologic Anatomy, 43(4), 469–479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-020-02551-2
Fu, X., Wu, X., Liu, D., Zhang, C., Xie, H., Wang, Y., & Xiao, L. (2022). Practice and exploration of the “student-centered” multielement fusion teaching mode in human anatomy. Surgical & Radiologic Anatomy, 44(1), 15–23. https://doi-org.ezproxy.tru.ca/10.1007/s00276-021-02866-8
Hazard, Russell. (2019). Supporting 21st Century Skills in Language and Literacy Classrooms with a Multiliteracies Approach. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346187182_Supporting_21_st_Century_Skills_in_Language_and_Literacy_Classrooms_with_a_Multiliteracies_Approach
Your essay provides a thorough analysis of how education is changing in the twenty-first century, highlighting the significance of fusing conventional literacy with newer forms of literacy including media and digital literacy. You do a good job of highlighting the need for educators to modify their methods of instruction in order to give pupils the wide range of skills necessary to successfully navigate the complex world of today.
Furthermore, by include academic references in your writing, you strengthen the validity of your claims and highlight the significance of incorporating other literacies into teaching methods. Your own reflection from the perspectives of both a learner and a teacher also provides a relatable viewpoint and shows that you are aware of the advantages and difficulties of implementing new literacies into instructional practices.
It is admirable that you are dedicated to creating an atmosphere that encourages ethical digital citizenship, problem-solving, and critical thinking. The use of digital literacy in geometry form instruction in India serves as an illustration of the usefulness and practicality of contemporary teaching techniques. Overall, your input does a good job of highlighting the importance of modifying education to satisfy the needs of the digital age while also recognizing the continued importance of conventional literacy skills.
I appreciate your thoughts and ideas that according to the present situation students need a diverse set of skills to cope with the advanced world. Like you I also believe that the traditional method has a great significance to write essay and report. Along with the traditional method, educators should focus on the media literacy, information literacy and digital literacy to keep update their students with the digital platform. Through those type of multi-literacies, students will be able to increase their ability to problem solving. Your own opinion from the perspectives of both a student and a facilitator also provides a relatable viewpoint and shows that you are aware of the advantages and difficulties of implementing new literacies into instructional practices.
I agree with your goal that is to provide students with the necessary abilities to succeed in the digital age by incorporating these new literacies into my teaching. The traditional method is important for some cases along with the digital literacy to make our students update with the 21st century world.