Digital Media Effects on Conventional Reading and Writing Practices

May 20, 2014

"Essentially, the huge opportunities and options for creating text (email, tweets, blogs) cause us to write (or type) more than we ordinarily would.  The result is that we are less careful with our words.

“We type far more than we used to and are producing massive amounts of text compared to what we used to write,” Baron says. “And because of the amount of writing we are doing, we tend to devalue what we write. How much do we edit or care about what we post online to god knows whom? How much are we making sure to represent ourselves carefully?”" (Karp 2010)

I found this article by Karp very non-biased in reference to digital media and language.  I know there is so much to be said about this technology age and how students are less apt to engage in reading and fluent writing with all the devices that are available to them.  I agree that this is a valid concern but I there is something to be said about the value we place on creating text.  I know the emphasis should be on how we want this language to represent each of us.  As educators we should stress the relevance and importance of technology but stress the importance of choosing wisely the language and wording we do.

"The question of how to value different kinds of reading is complicated because people read for many reasons. There is the level required of daily life — to follow the instructions in a manual or to analyze a mortgage contract. Then there is a more sophisticated level that opens the doors to elite education and professions. And, of course, people read for entertainment, as well as for intellectual or emotional rewards." (Rich 2008)

This comment really hit home for me when I evaluate the pros and cons of technology.  I realize there are many reasons people read and there is the need for complex language and understanding.  Much of what we read requires basic cognition and comprehension.  On a more complex level we need to read for understanding and application.  Otherwise reading can be for entertainment and enjoyment.

After reading this article I could completely understand the frustration of this mother.  Being a mother of three pre-teen and teenage girls I find it very difficult to motivate them to read for educational purpose but even more for leisure.  Our rapidly growing need for online activity in this digital age is sweeping the country.  Children would rather use Youtube or the social media networking sites to be "connected" rather than call or write a friend.  I find it interesting how "lost" the young people of this decade feel without Internet.  

I know I have become more tech "savvy" in the recent years because you have to stay up to date with technology.  Yes, I own an iPhone, and iPad and even a MacBook and I would feel "lost" without them.  I do see the need for technology and I have found it to be my friend. I do feel more comfortable with my devices because I know the digital age of learning is upon us.

The short video provided an interesting twist to my theories of how texting has affected our language.  I have considered the enormous amount of texting that is done to be a detriment to our society and I have even made comments about how young people's spelling and grammar have declined.  I did see this speaker's perspective on TEDTalks as an encouragement to me.  The comment he made referring to "fingered speech" was a better way to address this type of communication.  I do see the need to advance with technology but I have mixed feelings on a positive outcome.  I guess I would consider myself more of a Traditionalist but growing closer to a Web Evangelist. Hopefully after this class I will have a better perspective on the benefits of technology for teaching in this new media age.

References

 Karp, J. (2010, January 26). Does Digital Media Make Us Bad Writers? | Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning. Does Digital Media Make Us Bad Writers?. Retrieved May 20, 2014, from http://spotlight.macfound.org/featured-stories/entry/does-digital-media-make-us-bad-writers 

 Rich, M. (2008, July 26). Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading?. The New York Times. Retrieved May 20, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/books/27reading.html

(20142013). TEDTalks : Films Media Group.