Developing Literacy in MST

Authored by Randy Warner
(Each student in GMST 525 has written their own post for our class blog.)

The first standard in NYS English Language Arts indicates that all students should be able to reading, write, listen and speak for information and understanding. Current technology and literacy issues seem to evolve around gaining skills in acquiring new sources of information. In an age of overflowing information, effective teachers need to rapidly process what’s coming at them and distinguish between what’s reliable and what isn’t—yet so do our students!

According to Karen Bruett, who serves on the board of the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and Dell executive, says that, “It’s important that students know how to manage it, interpret it, validate it, and how to act on it.” Doesn’t this statement mimic a learning standard?

Since taking the GMST 525 class, my view of teaching literacy to my content specialty has expanded to embrace that literacy in secondary education is an issue but in addition I have learned that there is “The New Literacy” which is a language that includes having the ability to read online text. . Information is accessible to everyone everywhere but how do teachers get the support needed to implement this information for instruction? How are teachers getting the support needed regardless of the school district or state that they work in?