New Literacies: Everyday Practices and Classroom Learning

by Colin Lankshear, Michele Knobel

The World Has Changed—So Should the Way You Teach This thought-provoking book argues that education has failed to take into account how much the world has changed since the information technology revolution and that education requires a totally new mindset to become relevant. The authors describe the new social practices and new literacies associated with a digital world and offer suggestions on where change should occur.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education

272 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

Reviews

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was required reading for a class that begins shortly. It was very techno-jargon-y. Which is very disappointing as I have read other books based on understanding and incorporating digital literacies and technologies into pedagogy that were not and still managed to get their point across very well (for Example, James Paul Gee's What Video Games Have to Teach us...). As the audience of this book is teachers or those aiming to become teachers, in my opinion it would be in the best interest of the authors to make it as "user friendly" as possible. Unfortunately, it missed the mark a bit on that front.

With that being said, it offered interesting points defending the need to incorporate these literacies meaningfully into the classroom. And a few examples of how that could be done. I am not entirely convinced the American public is ready to embrace a portion of school learning through these means. If we cannot even lift a firewall for accessing YouTube in schools, how on earth can we access other meaningful sites. How can we teach our students to be active, purposeful, informed participants in the digital age without access? All points that the book addressed as well.

All in all, if I hadn't been forced to read it for school, I probably would have discarded it after my magical 50 page mark (if you haven't hooked me by then, I'm done). Therefore if you are techno-proficient with terminology and interested in how to incorporate a lot of this in school environments, read it. If not, don't.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is dense reading. If you can make it through the excruciating opening, you can get to some interesting sections. There is a lot of repetition in this lengthy book.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay, of all the books i read this semester, i actually ENJOYED this one!

[Holly · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is THE most boring textbook I have ever read. Period.

[C Heaslip]

Already date. Very academic discussion. I was looking for something relating more immediately to the classroom. Not the right fit for what I wanted.