New Media & New Literacies

  Balancing our focus across these areas can help ensure that technological tools do not become the driving force of instruction, even in a digital age.” (Aguilera, 2017) I used this quote in my last one, but I think it is crucial to remember that there needs to be a balance in the classroom. For preschool-aged children, the goal is to create meaningful, hands-on learning that encourages curiosity and social interaction. We also need to try and incorporate new digital literacies in a mindful and age-appropriate way. For my preschool room, you can incorporate digital literacies starting with having a conversation about it from a story that you read. For instance, I can read a story to the children and ask the children how they think a character in the book might communicate if they couldn’t speak face to face in the story. This will open the dialogue about how technology can help people connect when they are far apart from each other. They can use the telephone, text, zoom, and Fa...

    At the day care center, we do try to avoid screen time with the children. Our technology at the center are CD players and tablets, which we use thoughtfully. Each classroom has tablets to play music during nap time, listening to books on the tablet or the CD player. We do create opportunities for children to use these digital skills in meaningful ways. For example, if children express interest in a particular subject, we might watch a brief educational video, encouraging curiosity and enhancing their understanding.   While we previously provided computers in every room, they became outdated and were phased out. “Students must have the skills and knowledge necessary to express oneself creatively for a variety of purposes in diverse contexts using the appropriate platforms, tools, styles, formats, and digital media necessary to reach different communication goals.” (Digital Literacy This Brief) We provide opportunities for children to share their thoughts and ideas ...

 In my role as a former preschool lead teacher, the concept of new literacies extends beyond print or even spoken language and into the age of technology and communication strategies. In the Definition of Literacy in a Digital Age they say “Recognize and honor the multilingual literacy identities and culture experiences individuals bring to learning environments and provide opportunities to promote, amplify, and encourage these differing variations of language. (National Council of Teachers of English. 2019)” One experience that I had involved a child in my preschool class who had just moved to the U.S. from China. This child spoke no English, and while his parents spoke broken English, communication between us was difficult. The first couple of months were incredibly challenging, as the child did not understand me, and I struggled to understand him. I tried using my usual techniques—asking the parents to share key words in their native language and spelling them phonetically so I ...

  Hello, my name is Kelly, I live in Buffalo NY. I just graduated with my Bachelor's in Educational Studies with a minor in Early Childhood from Empire State University in May 2024. I’ve worked as a preschool lead teacher for 12 years and was recently promoted to the daycare director where I’ve worked. I chose to pursue the M.Ed. because I hope to train other early childhood educators or potentially become a professor in early childhood education. My learning goals for this course include discovering new media that I can apply in my daycare setting, as well as learning tools and strategies that will help me in my future goal of training others in the field of early childhood education. One of my employees sent this to me the other day. I thought it was funny since we are both 35, and sometimes you just feel that old.  Good luck this semester!