The Future Skype: Embedded in TV

What educational opportunities might this new development provide?

Textual Literacy, Technology and the Visually Impaired

More synchronicity? There's an article today in the NY Times Magazine about the effects of new technology on literacy and the visually impaired. Levels of textual literacy has been distinguished in the visually-impaired community by the use of Braille and the standard conventions of written language. Though text-to- voice makes for access to information via text-to-voice, we return to the question of how the tech advances influence written textual expressions by visually impaired people.

Braille's End?

These questions seem to relate to my last post--so if we move to post-literate expressions (mediums), what happens to the perception that educated persons are able to express themselves through textual communications?

Literacy, Aliteracy and Post-Literacy

I've just been visiting with my niece, an elementary teacher and reading specialist, about our recent reads. She brought up the term "aliteracy"-- having the ability to read, but choosing not to. I have a hard time with the thought that we can forsake reading of text and forsake critical thinking without making ourselves vulnerable to manipulation by people who create spin, for example.

After talking with her, I did a bit of reading about "post-literacy" as well -- the development of media-based communications, which could question whether we would need textual literacy skills and came across this blog post:

http://somanybooksblog.com/2009/03/16/are-we-headed-toward-a-post-literate-world/

I don't think that literature will go away (though it's form may change) or fully believe that post-literacy would need to fully ignore textual forms that might inform new mediums. I'd still make the case for textual literacy as an educational under-girding for wherever we are headed.

Test blog post

Returning to the Questions

Remembering past discussions with colleagues, reminds me of our shared goals--helping students stay in the learning, and opening our minds to the tools they might use to show us what they know:

Karen's post: Questions to Ponder

What is World Cafe Dialogue?

Here you go: Nice video explanation--dialogue as collective

R Munkler's Christmas Gift to Us

This video was posted as end-of-course reflection at the graduate level. Enjoy.