In what is now western Asia a millennia ago, cuneiform tablets were put out in the sun to cure. In a dark cave in France some 30,000 years ago, man painted on a cave wall. Persians and Arabs of the ancient world carefully tanned leather in preparation for messages. In China 105AD, mulberry tree bark, bamboo fibres and water were mixed together to create paper. Shakespeare sat in candle light, dipping his quill and creating masterpieces. Hemmingway pounded away day and nigth on a typewriter. Now, the soft whir of the comuter and the light tapping on the keyboard can be heard as another literary work is stored on the cloud.
In 1859, Charles Darwin published his theory of evolution. I believe that this theory can be used to explain literacy and new technologies. Literacy is a living organism, ever growing and evolving. Literacy must evolve, if it does not it becomes stagnant and dies. Every age throughout time has encoundtred "new technologies" in literacy, if we did not we would still be sratching on cave walls with a rock.
The 21st Century learner seems to be the most advantaged because of technology. Due to advancements in literacy, educators and learners can readily access all strands of litercy. The six strands, as indicated by Alberta Education, are: speak,read, write, view, represent and listen. More importantly new technologies allow learners to engage meaninfully with literacy.
Are studens only literate if they can pick up a print version of Dickenson's Bleakhouse? Are studenst literate because they listened to the audio verson of Anne Frank's Diary and can write a position paper on it? If a reluctant reader picks up and devours a graphic novel of The Battle of Batoche, is that student not literate?
I think we need to broaden our definition of literacy and embrace new technologies and mediums that present that text to us. As educators, we must rember technology is only the tool that facilitates the learning. In addition, the most important thing to keep in mind is with the lightening speed in which technology is introduced do not be afraid to use it in the classroom. Learn right along with your students and allow them to teach you. You will be the richer for it.