“What sort of literacy is needed in the digital age” is a question that I seek to answer throughout my research in this program and beyond.  If using the definition of created by my group of literacy being communication within the facilities of speaking, reading, writing, and listening, then I think that literacy in the digital age involves all of these as well as watching.  I define “watching” as engaging and interacting with digital text beyond physically seeing it with your eyes.  In an article by Weisz, Kiesler, Zhang, Ren, Kraut, and Konstan (2007), they speak of watching videos online as “becoming increasingly popular, and new video streaming technologies have the potential to transform video watching from a passive, isolating experience into an active, socially engaging experience” (877).  It’s through the social interaction of being able to comment on videos or offer an opinion about a topic that adds to the definition of literacy when technology is added.

Therefore, the characteristics of a technologically literate person would continue to include the maneuverability between all of those channels of literacy – reading, speaking, writing, listening, and watching.  Because use of technology can be associated with social engagement, the idea of technology as community begins to creep into the discussion.  I believe within technology literacy is where we delve into various “levels” of literacy.  The highly technologically literate person relishes in the ability to create/invent new forms of media in an effort to add to the discourse.  They not only watch and engage socially in media, but they are at the forefront of names/pseudonyms associated with a particular technological platform.  Examples of this would include the “Instagram [IG] model” or the “Tom” character on Facebook.  These names are familiar to everyone in the technology community and ones who lead the charge for others to create/invent their own niche in said community.  The moderately technologically literate person engages in technology, but is not so involved with adding to the discourse or even gaining accolade or notoriety.  He/she is just happy being a part of the community.  The marginally technologically literate person is concerned with using technology as a means to an end.  They may only use technology in the classroom as a way to illustrate a point, to make phone call/send a text with a purpose, read an online article to gain knowledge, watch a video strictly for entertainment, or write a blog/assignment to fulfill some requirement.  These people need to exist in order for the highly technologically literate people to flourish.  In the technological sense, literacy becomes a choice.

People’s technology practices shape their literacy because as previously stated, it is a choice.  Society chooses just how technologically literate they want to be.  In many instances, older populations within society do not feel the need to learn any new technology because they either have chosen to not be a part of this new “doo-dads” or “thing-a-ma-bob” OR they have a fear of technology – Technophobia (Rosen 2001).

Selfe (1999) posits that technological literacy reveals “complex sets of cultural beliefs and values that influence, and are influenced by-collective, individual, and historical understandings of what it means to read, write, make meaning, and communicate via computers and within on-line environments.”  This speaks to what types of literacy is needed in a technological society today.  Some other types of skills include flexibility, openness, and willingness towards new forms of technology and literacy.

READING…

I can remember when I remember reading, it was more so recognition.  When I was really young (around 2), I remember my mother asking me to come to where she was reading the newspaper and I would see images that I recognized.  I knew what the logo/branding was for places I had been or places I loved to go.  I was always observant as a child so I made sure that wherever I went, I paid attention to little nuances that made that place unique.

My mother would ask me “what is this?” or “what does this say?”  I would then respond, “McDonalds” or “Park-N-Shop” (which was a grocery store that we frequented when I was younger).  This was a time when ads would appear in the newspaper – not as separate circulars or anything like that.  I had learned my letters at that point and my recognition also became more about memorization of sequences of letters.  I knew what “Park” looked like in the “Park-N-Shop” logo due to its recognition, so when I saw P-A-R-K together in anything else, I could identify it as the word “park.”

I can’t say I remember the title of the first book I read on my own, but I do remember that it was a book/tape combination.  It was a blue book that had a plastic protective covering around it and on the back was a small, plastic case where a yellow audio cassette tape went.  I could put the tape in my mother’s handheld tape recording and play it while I followed along in the book.  This advanced my recognition and memorization skills.  This has led me to think that is reading actual identification of words and sounds or it is more recognition and memorization of characters?

I can remember reading “Little Golden Books.” These were small, thinly bound books with gold adhesive binding on them and they featured stories such as “The Poky Little Puppy” and other Walt Disney based ones.

I used to have a collection of those on a bookshelf that held the TV at my grandmother’s house.  I always remember seeing that train on the back of the book that featured characters I was familiar with who also had various little golden book stories about them – many of them I owned.

I would go to the library periodically with my mom, but nothing was greater to me than just reading at home.  I did not particularly like going to the library because it was so overwhelming to me.  You had to be quiet and I was a child who liked to talk to himself.  I also cannot remember being read to as a child, but I do remember being told stories.  These stories were not fiction stories, but were stories about my family and friends of the family that I could turn into my own stories.  My imagination was pretty vivid.

WRITING…

As far as writing goes, I cannot remember my first encounters with writing as much.  I do remember when I was in school, approximately the 3^rd grade, when I learned how to write in cursive, my class used to practice on the landscape, grayish lined paper with the pink line at the top and the mixture of dotted and solid lines.  We also used to write with the FAT number 2 pencils (which were great for pencil fighting might I add).

As for writing at home, I do not do much writing at home now because I have do so much reading and writing at work.  Home has become a place for me to collect my thoughts and just relax.  I have found that I am not productive when I am at home – unless I am doing some light grading.

I have never kept a journal or a diary.  There are times where when I feel a little bogged down or “stressed” that I will write some of my thoughts down just to keep my sanity.  Sometimes those thoughts include “to do lists” (which I love), places I would like to visit with the year, and how I am currently feeling at the time.  Writing is an important part of my life, but I tend to keep most of my writings internal until I have to let them out.

This weekend, as part of a class assignment, the 808 – Technology and Literacy course was required to go “tech free” for 24 hours.  My initial thoughts about this were, “man, I think this will be fun.”  The more I thought about it, I began to think, “hmmm….how fun WILL this be?”  This blog will journal my time going Tech Free from Thursday June 2 @ 5:00 PM to Friday June 3 @ 5:00 PM.

Thursday June 2 –

5:00 PM:  I got back to room a little before 5:0o.  The meet and greet with the 1st year cohort is tonight so that will give me a chance to talk to people and not think so much about not having my technology.  I am writing this in my notebook so that I can recall this when I want to type this in the journal after I’m done tomorrow.  I’m glad “The Squad” (my PhD. cohort) decided to do this together as a group AND I’m glad we decided that we would not use technology post 2000.  If we had not done that, this would have been really bad because people would have started saying stuff like “oh, we can’t use lights or the stove/microwave.”  That would have been crap.  I laid down for a bit, but then Bita stopped by to bring back the headphones I let her borrow and she brought my external flash drive that I was looking for all day.  Thank God for that!  She mentioned that they were helping to set up for the party so I agreed that I would go and help.  That would get me out of the room and out of the silence… We took the stairs down to the first floor and helped with the set up.  That helped me out.  I turned off my phone at 5 and did not touch the TV at all.

6:00 PM:  Between 5 and 6, Mellissa and I drove to the Little Caesars inside the Kmart, inside the mall (imagine that).  We violated the tech free a bit because my car is 2011, however, I did turn the Satellite Radio off since that was a clear use of modern technology.  We talked in the car and had a good conversation.  Once we got to Little Caesars, we did have to use our credit cards to pay for the food which was for the party.  Once we arrived at the party, we were so engaged in conversation, that the technology was not missed.

7:00 PM:  As the party wrapped up, we all contributed to the clean up.  We decided since we had a little bit of energy and could not really work on other assignments like we wanted to, we all went to The Coney on Philadelphia to have drinks and to converse more.  I was still feeling o.k. not using the technology because I was out with other people – interacting and enjoying each other.  Abby did mention that she felt like she was missing an appendage because she felt like she was forgetting her phone.  Once we got to The Coney, we sat down and Jack noticed a TV that was facing him.  He moved to the other end of the table so that he would not be tempted to watch it.  Again, the conversation was good and I was a bit tired from the day so after we talked for a while, I went back home to go to bed.

9:00 PM:  Mellissa, Bita and I walked back to our apartments.  When I got back to my apartment, I wanted to turn the TV on to wind down, but I remembered not to.  I was so tired from the day, that I did not feel too awkward not doing that.  The only noise in the room was the air conditioner coming on/going off and actually, I forgot that my tablet was still on and plugged up.  A notification alert came through and made  sound.  I had to refrain from going to the tablet to check it.  I actually left the tablet on because I didn’t want to touch it for fear of violating my agreement.  Sleep came rather quickly.

Friday June 3-

7:30 AM:  I awoke confused about the dreams of sex and work that I had throughout the night.  I looked at my alarm clock (somewhat of a violation) just to see what time it was.  I made breakfast and ate because I had to attend a workshop sponsored by the Writing Center, “Word – Beyond the Basics” at 9.  I took a shower and got dressed with no noise of the TV or music.  On my way out, I almost grabbed my iPod and headphones, but I realized what I was doing, sucked my teeth, and continued out the door on my way to the Writing Center.

8:30 AM:  As I was walking to the Writing Center, I got lost.  I could have just looked at a campus map on my phone, but I did not have it.  I finally asked a student where it was because I had only been there one time.  I found it as well as some of the 1st year cohort students who were attending as well.  Computers flooded the writing center.  I figured if I was going violate my tech free rule, this would be it.  Then I had the idea, maybe I would just take notes and not use the computer at all.

9:30 AM:  Eureka!  Not touching the computer worked.  I still violated a bit because I was looking at the computer screen/projection screen but I did not touch a computer.  Actually taking notes worked better for what we were doing because much of it incorporated using shortcut keys and instructions on where to find certain things.  I wish I could contact others to see what they are doing.  According to the plan we set at The Coney the night before, we were planning to meet at the Library at 10 and study until about 12, then meet at Amadeus Cafe at 2 and work until 5.  The library is where I am headed after the workshop.

10:30 AM:  Got to the library and met Jack, Meg, and Abby.  We spent our time reading articles and bouncing ideas off of each other about possible research topics for Dr. Hanauer’s class next session.  As I was writing in my notebook, I realized how much easier it would have been to just type my notes about the articles on my computer and to do some research while reading.  I also wanted to check some emails.

11:30 AM:  I was still reading and planned to grab some lunch at 12:30 PM.

12:30 PM:  Grabbed lunch at my apartment.  It was really tough not to turn on the TV because I am so used to eating and watching TV.  After I ate, I took a small nap in silence.  I noticed that my tablet was still on because another notification came through.  I sighed and continued to lay on my love seat.

1:30 PM:  Awoke from my nap and got myself ready to walk to Cafe Amadeus.  I needed to go to my car to grab some clothes to be dry cleaned as the cleaners was on the way.  I mistakenly took the elevator to the 1st floor instead of the stairs (another small violation). I stopped at the dry cleaners and dropped off my clothes.  I also stopped at an IUP gift shop and Greek Paraphernalia shop.  I decided to buy an IUP T-shirt and as I was walking to the register, a TV with Julie Chen’s face was staring me in the face.  I immediately looked away and tried to avoid it.  I could not even look the cashier in the face because the TV was right behind him.  I managed to get through that but it was hard because I wanted to make eye contact.

2:30 PM:  I made it Cafe Amadeus and met Meg, Jack, Abby, and John.  There was music playing the background while we worked but I don’t think it was too much of a violation because they were playing songs like, “Kokomo,” “We Are the World,” and some unrecognizable Michael Jackson songs that we deemed must have either come from “Michael Jackson:  The Lost Album” or must have been new music that he just released because he is not dead.

3:30 PM:  Still working a bit at Cafe Amadeus.  Bounced some ideas off of Jack and Meg for my research topic for Hanauer’s Class.

4:30 PM:  Left Cafe Amadeus a bit before 4:30.  Meg is now back to her tech and I wish I could see the elation on her face.  I decided to walk back home and go get ice cream for being so productive throughout the day.

5:00 PM:  I am FREE!!! I turned on the TV, turned on my cell phone, and started checking messages and notifications on my tablet.  It took me about 1.5 hours to catch up on everything – including finding out that my uncle passed away during my tech free 24 hours.

The Aftermath:

I have learned that I don’t really need technology to survive – as long as I am around people.  If I had to do this by myself, I could not have made it.  I would like to try this assignment in my Writing in a Digital World course towards the beginning just to see how well the students handle it.  It could work to show the students that writing – albeit much easier to use technology – isn’t the only way to convey your ideas and ultimately get your point across.  I enjoyed this experience, but I don’t want to do it again anytime soon.

DM

• Primary Blog Question
  • When compared, the two film clips help illuminate a key question for this course: How has our relationship to technology changed over time?
• Secondary Blog Questions
  • How has film technology changed?
  • How have we changed as film viewers?
  • How has our understanding of time evolved?
  • How does fiction/science fiction impact our relationship to technology?

Our relationship to technology has become one of dependence.  Noting in the first film, the main character arrives to the dinner ready to share with his colleagues of things that he has seen.  He is not as dependent on technology to relay that information to them and there is still an atmosphere of collegiality and conversation.  In the second film, the character has to deal with a dilemma and begins to, in the fashion of Bill Murray’s “Groundhog’s Day,” relive his experiences by making very small changes within the fabric of time.  He comes to the revelation that he cannot change the unfortunate circumstances to his situation in the past, so he travels to the future.  Our society has become so dependent on technology and how we can improve technology that we don’t take the time to enjoy what we currently have.  I have seen businesses and even people shut down because the “system is down” or “my computer is running slowly today”  Technology and humans within society have entered into a marriage that is truly “’til death do us part…”  It is sad that our real human to human marriages cannot last this long.

Film technology has changed in many ways between the two movies.  The use of special effects, Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), and even methods of cinematography have enhanced our movie going experience.  These areas have to change because society has changed.  As singer/songwriter India Irie sings, “The only thing constant in the world is change…”

As film viewers and movie goers, we have become much more analytical in our viewing because so many films rely on complex storylines, multi-layered characters, and nearly impossible situations.  Our brains tend to work overtime attempting to “figure out” what is going to happen next and how the characters are going to get themselves out of the situation given they particular flaws or deep rooted insecurities related to past situations.

Our understanding of time has changed as well – in that we don’t tend to think about it as much.  Because many people live in the moment, rarely do many people think about what happened in the past and how that affects what will happen in the future.  Society is aware of the concept of time, but thinking about time travel and even what people will do tomorrow is lost.

Science fiction and fiction give us a glimpse into what could be.  It is awesome to watch and think about and acts as a muse for scientists, engineers and researchers to explore the possibilities.

DM

Just checking things out here…Come in and enjoy!

Peace Out,

The Director…

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