Hello reader, I am Hailey Pack. Currently I am a senior at CSUN getting my BA in English Literature and my Teaching Credential. As I enter this last year of my college education I am able to stand firm on a few things. If you can not find me in a classroom I am at the beach, I have explored an equal amount of places on earth as in books, and a small act of kindness paired with an inner confidence can not only change someone's life but it is a contagious energy. Some other things to note about me is I love music, art, movies, and sports. In my humble opinion they are all aspects to the backbone of our society. They create community and guide us to people and opportunities that shape us as people.
Having been in a classroom for quite some time now I have come to the ever changing thought that media technology can enhance teaching but must be used with caution. The rather traditional literature that is taught in an English class has become a lost art, and as much as I believe that we should move with time, I think we should also reflect on where we started. I am a firm believer of teaching beyond the textbook, teaching about life through the required material and having a safe space for your students. That being said, many of our students feel safe with the media because it is familiar.
As a student I have found that using the creative aspect of media in the classroom can work wonders for the engagement and understanding in the classroom. For example, having students create an instagram account for a character of the novel they are reading can help connect the world of literature to the lives our students live in today. This assignment allows them to reflect and think like the character furthering the connection and understanding of the literature.
Hello, Hailey! Like you, I am of the belief that it is indeed possible to incorporate media technology into the classroom, but it is a practice that must be handled mindfully. Too often, instructors may use media technology as somewhat of a "shortcut," meaning that there is an over-reliance on the technology itself to be a teacher. This has the unfortunate consequence of not only hindering a students' understanding of the material, but also undercutting their passion for what it is that they are learning. Now, it is unreasonable to expect all students to "click" with texts that have been assigned to them-- who among us hasn't despised a book, simply because we had no other choice but to read it for a grade-- but there should be an element of fun in learning, as that allows for a deeper connection and familiarization. Solely depending on technology to teach can remove that fun from the material, thus cultivating an atmosphere of apathy.
ReplyDeleteHi Hailey! It’s so important to embrace new tools and methods to keep students engaged, but we also shouldn’t lose sight of the classics that have shaped our understanding of literature. Your idea of having students create an Instagram account for a character from their reading is such a clever way to make literature feel more relevant. It’s amazing how connecting a novel’s world to something students interact with every day can really help them get into the material. It’s like giving the characters a modern voice that they can relate to. I also agree with you on how media can provide a sense of familiarity and safety for students. When they use tools they know well, like social media, it can make the learning process feel more approachable and less intimidating.
ReplyDeleteHello Hailey,
ReplyDeleteI also love to travel and find myself inspired to travel based on a lot of books I read from when I was young—which I think is what started the “bug.”
When it comes to classroom practices, a cautionary approach is a great way to describe how a lot of educators are addressing this rampant boom in tech. I didn’t give it much thought until I read your post, but yeah, English is definitely at a crossroads when it comes to how to implement technology in a way that still recognizes and respects the past while also keeping up with the present. With ebooks being so readily available (and relatively cheap as well), will the days of a physical book and physical notes be gone in a few years? Seems at this point, it is important for us educators to plan around tech, just like you mentioned that character instagram profile.
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