My next reading dealt with how our generation is now composing meaning through photographs, videos, computers, and images. Instead of using print-based texts as forms of literacy, people primarily use visual literacy. In the article, four case studies were conducted on four different individuals who grew up using visual literacy and became advanced in computer skills. These skills they learned in computer games and social media blogs have helped shape their literacy skills and writing skills in classes and the workforce. The purpose of this article was to show how our culture is constantly changing. Even our teachers and parents grew up with different ways of finding information, so often times their ways of thinking are outdated compared to our new visual ways of thinking. One question that I pondered during the article was that since the article states that teachers often do not understand the new visual literacy, are students truly able to learn as much as they could if their teachers used more visual based sources? Finally, this article is one last opportunity to explore research ideas. This article has given me my research question that I will explore in future posts. The following questions are answered in my journal below:
- What do the writers mean when they argue that we "compose meaning not only with words but also with digitized bits of video, sound, photographs, still images, words, and animations" (183)? What are some examples of "composing" meaning?
- The authors argue that Danielle learned literacy skills such as "visual, kinesthetic, and interactive components of gaming" (185) through her participation in computer games. Do you agree that these skills are, in fact, literacy skills? Why or why not? Do you have skills that may be debatable as "literacy" skills? Explain.
Journal 4
Our
generation has transformed from strictly print-based literature to new forms of
technology and visual aids to access literary works. The writers in “The Future of Literacy” state that we
“compose meaning not only with words but also with digitized bits of video,
sound, photographs, still images, words and animations (183).” Before computers were invented or even
became popular, the primary source of information came from print-based
resources. Newspapers were read
daily and letters or phone calls were the main means of communication. Furthermore, students used only
textbooks for school teachings.
However, today communication, information, and messages can be relayed
in more visual forms. People often
learn from videos or Internet sites, which are more convenient sources of
information. Additionally, images
and photographs follow the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words,” as
they also convey meaning to their viewers. Overall, our generation has a much more visual learning
style than strictly print-based texts.
One
can compose meaning in a photograph that they haven taken. For example, the
picture may show but also describe how one feels on a particular day. Taking a picture of clouds on a rainy
day, may express that a person is feeling blue and down. Moreover, composing cartoons and
animations can leave their viewer with important information and ideas. Political cartoons and animations one
may see before the start of a movie are two examples of visual literacy.
The
authors state that Danielle, a case study in the article, learned literacy
skills such as “visual, kinesthetic, and interactive components of gaming”
while participating in computer games. I believe these skills are literary
skills as they are all apart of literature. For example, visual learning is very important in our
generation since many sources are now visual. Gaining ideas from photographs are key and learning from
videos can help one succeed anywhere.
One literary skill I have is auditory learning. Auditory learning means that things
being explained and read to me help me remember information. However, this could be questionable as
a literacy skill because it does not help you read any better. For example, when learning a new
language for me, it is easier for me to learn by speaking and hearing the
language. On the other hand, when I
go to read this new language my auditory skills are not much help. The same goes for any type of
reading.
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