When I began this course and saw the text, Reading the Web, I thought to myself, "I know how to read the web. You just google what you want and go there." Wow, was I ever wrong! I didn't realize this involved more than just "going there." Often, I would get so overwhelmed with "going there" and viewing a sea of sites that I really didn't need, that I would give up. This course on new literacy development and online inquiry in the classroom has given me a whole new outlook (sorry for the cliche) on how to read web URL's, and how to distinguish between sites that are educationally sound, and those that aren't.
One particular area that really stood out for me, and actually it didn't occur until later in the course, is the fact that so many students are using the web for whatever they choose. Now, this in and of itself is not a big revelation. They have been doing this now for quite a while; but what is is the fact that if school districts do not get deeply involved in the new literacies education of our students, they (students) will continue to utilize the web without proper supervision and guidance. Often we take for granted that just because our child or our students are sitting in front of computers, they are safe because they're not on the road riding with a drunk driver. However, we have all learned that online predators are very savvy and just as dangerous. It would be very beneficial if our district offered a PLU class for teachers and parents on the benefits and risks of using the Internet.
Because of what I've gained from this course, in my future instruction of students using the Internet as a resource for their work, I will first teach them how to read the web effectively before they begin an online project. This will include step by step procedures with guided practice. As students are able to establish methods for achieving this, they will spend less time searching and will spend quality time reading, using, and publishing only what they need.
A professional goal I'm looking forward to in the near future is to enroll in an upcoming new literacies course. At this time one isn't offered, but I will take an additional course on this essential area as it becomes available. To maintain current knowledge in this field I will spend more time in our resources discovering new and different ways to teach my students new literacy skills. Throughout my learning adventure thus far, it has been very evident that all of our resources were prepared with forethought by educational professionals. Further, teachers are able to utilize them at any time for the betterment of their students.
