My Reflection on the Literacies

            In my secondary school I developed my text, audio and visual literacy skills. On the other hand, in terms of digital literacy skills when I started university, I improved computer literacy skill by using computer for my lessons. For audio literacy skill I was not prepared for the demands of academia but in a while I prepared audio literacy skill while listening CDs and watching series and movies. Furthermore, I used cyber learning literacy in university. I went to SAC (Self-Access Center) most of my times for studying. And I improved media literacy after starting my department. In my courses, I produced a wide variety of media such as PowerPoint and Prezi presentations or creating videos.

          I have had to develop cyber learning, media, distance learning, audio, text, video and visual literacies to cope with the demands of university. For instance, I have been using visual literacy for almost all my classes. For my department, creativity is really important so, I have to know how to create and interpret visual message accurately. I use my visual ability for creating presentations or thinking about an example lesson plan. Distance learning literacy helps me work with my teacher when we are in an online class such as while studying in Teamviewer. Or, distance learning literacy assists my friends and me while working on a presentation but without being close to each other.

          I think the strongest literacy is cyber learning literacy. Because it is all about knowing and using the technological tools appropriately and effectively. In this era we have to live with technology. So knowing and using technological tools properly helps us (teachers) improve ourselves and make positive effects on students. On the other hand, the weakest literacy is computer literacy. Because knowing the problems of computers is not a big deal. With a little assistance everybody is able to solve those problems.

         Teachers nowadays need to be competent in all these literacies. Because being a teacher is not an easy thing these days. In old times teachers use only books for teaching. But now, for being an efficent teacher, teachers should try more. They use technology from every aspect such as sending e-mails, doing online classes and preparing slides.

***   I have put a few links for you. They are games about digital literacy. Also they can show the teachers how they integrate the games to the classroom.  Have fun :)

http://www.onguardonline.gov/media/game-0007-invest-quest

http://www.onguardonline.gov/media/game-0009-online-lineup

http://mediasmarts.ca/digital-media-literacy/educational-games

***   If you are bad at technology, you can watch the video and the guy who is not capable of using technology as well :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHCPb03xpKs

Digital Literacies

In terms of teacher, computer literacy will be different from students. Computer literacy means knowing how to operate systems and how to recognize and find solutions to hardware and software problems. So, inside the classroom teacher is the responsible person from the technologic devices such as operate systems, hardware and software problems etc. This position of teacher, of course- different from students. Another literacy is cyber learning literacy. Cyber learning literacy means using lots of technological tools to find information without any restriction. Technological tools that I mention are, for example, Edmodo, Skype, Teamviewer, Animoto, Prezi, Ouizlet and TED-Ed. Teachers’ usage of them is distinct from students. For instance, teachers can think more broadly while creating presentations or producing videos from Animoto. Teachers can be more meticulous while teaching online classes such as in Skype or Teamviewer. Also, they are more careful when searching any information for the class. In short, because students are not teacher, they use the technological tools for doing their homework. Furthermore, media literacy is to be able to interpret and produce a wide variety of media such as text, audio and visuals. Again teacher can differentiate the more useful media from the unnecessary media sources. Teacher can think more widely and openly while choosing the most appropriate and useful source from media. In Turkey most of the schools do not have the necessary environment for teachers to fully engage students and their way of learning, unfortunately. However, when I’m teacher, I would like to supply all necessary environment for my students. For example, I would like to use smart boards while teaching. Or, I want to teach my topics from Prezi or PowerPoint. Using technology provides students to grasp the topics. Because for them using technology is a new thing and they are curious about it. This curiosity makes them learn more fast. In my opinion, technology should be in the classroom but mobile devices should not be used inside the classroom. Mobile phones are really distractor for both students and teacher. They are not educational so, they should stay outside of the class. However, I encourage my students to use current technology they have in the classroom.

This is why I loved technology: if you used it right, it could give you power and privacy.

                                                                  –Cory Doctorow

Technology differences between Turkey and Switzerland

This chart compares Switzerland and Turkey in terms of availability of the technology. Availability of the technology is much more in Switzerland than Turkey. That shows that people use the technology more commonly in Switzerland. This can be a kind of encouragement for the people in Turkey.