Comments on: 21st Century Confusion http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/12/21st-century-confusion/ Standing on the verge of a technologically educational revolution. Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:02:09 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Charrai Hunter http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/12/21st-century-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-1064 Charrai Hunter Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:36:25 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=52#comment-1064 As an Secondary English teacher of over eight years I have come to discover that literacy goes beyond the simple ability to read and comprehend. I have also discovered that the reason we have so many adults that are functionally illeterate is because educators think that this is an issue that has and needs only to be addressed in the early years of education. Studies show that most American secondary students read below grade level, yet their content texbooks are written two to four grade levels above their current grade. This creates a great problem because although in the generic and broad sense of the term students have the ability to read and comprhend they do not have the literacy skills to grasp "gateway materials". Gateway materials being things such as standardized test or textbooks. Literacy skills are important because they teach students how to understand and ANALYZE a text. As an Secondary English teacher of over eight years I have come to discover that literacy goes beyond the simple ability to read and comprehend. I have also discovered that the reason we have so many adults that are functionally illeterate is because educators think that this is an issue that has and needs only to be addressed in the early years of education. Studies show that most American secondary students read below grade level, yet their content texbooks are written two to four grade levels above their current grade. This creates a great problem because although in the generic and broad sense of the term students have the ability to read and comprhend they do not have the literacy skills to grasp “gateway materials”. Gateway materials being things such as standardized test or textbooks. Literacy skills are important because they teach students how to understand and ANALYZE a text.

]]> By: Maria http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/12/21st-century-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-277 Maria Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:00:58 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=52#comment-277 Thanks for sharing your knowledge. This is very useful. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. This is very useful.

]]> By: letter from camp 2.0 « Higher Edison http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/12/21st-century-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-249 letter from camp 2.0 « Higher Edison Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:57:42 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=52#comment-249 [...] sherman |   Lo and behold! Just as I was sinking into despair, lamenting that the Great 21st Century Literacy Debate will never reach resolution, I stumbled across this letter from camp [...] [...] sherman |   Lo and behold! Just as I was sinking into despair, lamenting that the Great 21st Century Literacy Debate will never reach resolution, I stumbled across this letter from camp [...]

]]> By: dougbelshaw.com/blog » Blog Archive » The problem(s) of 21st century literacy/ies http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/12/21st-century-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-223 dougbelshaw.com/blog » Blog Archive » The problem(s) of 21st century literacy/ies Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:37:56 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=52#comment-223 [...] is defined too broadly, it becomes an umbrella term and of little practical use. Initially, I liked Judi Epcke’s comment that she’d heard Jason Ohler define literacy as “consuming and producing the media forms of [...] [...] is defined too broadly, it becomes an umbrella term and of little practical use. Initially, I liked Judi Epcke’s comment that she’d heard Jason Ohler define literacy as “consuming and producing the media forms of [...]

]]> By: The Need for Literacy Skills http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/12/21st-century-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-209 The Need for Literacy Skills Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:48:28 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=52#comment-209 [...] Bretag’s The Great Literacy Debate, Ben Gray’s post 21st century confusion and  21st century clarification. There have been discussions on twitter and plurk and these lead [...] [...] Bretag’s The Great Literacy Debate, Ben Gray’s post 21st century confusion and  21st century clarification. There have been discussions on twitter and plurk and these lead [...]

]]> By: Di Mulvihill http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/12/21st-century-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-201 Di Mulvihill Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:24:03 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=52#comment-201 Hi Ben, Congrats on generating such a vibrant, interesting conversation. I loved your comment about there not being a need to rename the basic idea of excellent literacy instruction as a basis or springboard from which to jump into all the developmental aspects of literacy required for the 21st century. I also loved Angela Maiers concept of adding the concepts of "collaborating, investigating, and communicating." I love both concepts because I see that as they meld together they form part of the actual evolutionary learning continuum which could be referred to as "effective literacy". I have enjoyed interacting with older teachers during my career and I have watched the concept of literacy emerge as something akin to a rich tapestry 'rug' being collaboratively woven over the years, as a result of collaboration, respect and communication, in a never ending quest to prepare our students for the needs of an uncertain future. Innate in this image is a deep respect for the ability older teachers possessed. There is a belief amongst older progressive teachers here in Australia that you 'never throw the baby out with the bath water' Therefore we remain open: ever asking ourselves "what is best for the students" ,listening to the "new", studying it, implementing it, tesing it, evaluating its effectiveness and either adding it to the tapestry or, shelving it until we happen upon a scenario or a group of students who would benefit from that unique method and invariably, this occurs. As soon as society relegates 'the past' or history as 'obsolete' the valuable foundations are lost, older teachers lose their confidence and can no longer contribute confidently to the ongoing conversations which add to the collective wealth of experience. Their contributions are 'lost'. because they are considered by youth as obsolete. How can that be truth? They metaphorically experience having their wonderful tapestry rug pulled out from under them. Lets keep the tapestry growing, valuing whats gone before and respectfully adding and/or subtracting ideas and opinions, methodologies and pedagogy so our options grow ever richer and broader. Its for the good of all really!! Hi Ben, Congrats on generating such a vibrant, interesting conversation. I loved your comment about there not being a need to rename the basic idea of excellent literacy instruction as a basis or springboard from which to jump into all the developmental aspects of literacy required for the 21st century.
I also loved Angela Maiers concept of adding the concepts of “collaborating, investigating, and communicating.” I love both concepts because I see that as they meld together they form part of the actual evolutionary learning continuum which could be referred to as “effective literacy”.
I have enjoyed interacting with older teachers during my career and I have watched the concept of literacy emerge as something akin to a rich tapestry ‘rug’ being collaboratively woven over the years, as a result of collaboration, respect and communication, in a never ending quest to prepare our students for the needs of an uncertain future. Innate in this image is a deep respect for the ability older teachers possessed. There is a belief amongst older progressive teachers here in Australia that you ‘never throw the baby out with the bath water’ Therefore we remain open: ever asking ourselves “what is best for the students” ,listening to the “new”, studying it, implementing it, tesing it, evaluating its effectiveness and either adding it to the tapestry or, shelving it until we happen upon a scenario or a group of students who would benefit from that unique method and invariably, this occurs.
As soon as society relegates ‘the past’ or history as ‘obsolete’ the valuable foundations are lost, older teachers lose their confidence and can no longer contribute confidently to the ongoing conversations which add to the collective wealth of experience. Their contributions are ‘lost’. because they are considered by youth as obsolete. How can that be truth? They metaphorically experience having their wonderful tapestry rug pulled out from under them. Lets keep the tapestry growing, valuing whats gone before and respectfully adding and/or subtracting ideas and opinions, methodologies and pedagogy so our options grow ever richer and broader. Its for the good of all really!!

]]> By: laboring for invention « Higher Edison http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/12/21st-century-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-186 laboring for invention « Higher Edison Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:25:21 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=52#comment-186 [...] Is there nothing new under the sun? Ben’s question has spawned some excellent discussion here, here, and [...] [...] Is there nothing new under the sun? Ben’s question has spawned some excellent discussion here, here, and [...]

]]> By: Steve Layne http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/12/21st-century-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-185 Steve Layne Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:42:46 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=52#comment-185 Ben - How can I not begin by commenting on your impressive use and mastery of vocabulary or the fact that you are clearly able to convey your thoughts with correct use of mechanics in an age where many believe "ok" is the true spelling of the word? Actually, the quality of your writing, in my estimation, supports your contention that what IS important has BEEN important for quite some time. What we call it is inconsequential entirely; however, the renaming of what has always been is common in large part because, whatever the field, someone slightly tweaking old concepts and providing a new zinger-of-a-name for them ultimately lead these "pioneers" to book deals and lectures that propel them to fame and most decidely, to fortune. I shall resist the urge to name names from my own field, but I believe it is true whether we are talking about literacy, law, medicine, etc. Ben -

How can I not begin by commenting on your impressive use and mastery of vocabulary or the fact that you are clearly able to convey your thoughts with correct use of mechanics in an age where many believe “ok” is the true spelling of the word? Actually, the quality of your writing, in my estimation, supports your contention that what IS important has BEEN important for quite some time.

What we call it is inconsequential entirely; however, the renaming of what has always been is common in large part because, whatever the field, someone slightly tweaking old concepts and providing a new zinger-of-a-name for them ultimately lead these “pioneers” to book deals and lectures that propel them to fame and most decidely, to fortune. I shall resist the urge to name names from my own field, but I believe it is true whether we are talking about literacy, law, medicine, etc.

]]> By: » Literacy in Context In Another Place: thinking about education http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/12/21st-century-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-181 » Literacy in Context In Another Place: thinking about education Thu, 01 Jan 2009 23:59:03 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=52#comment-181 [...] possessed most of the skills that we now label “21st century.” So, Ben Grey’s eloquent post about 21st century literacies resonated with me: I believe this is where the whole notion is lost [...] [...] possessed most of the skills that we now label “21st century.” So, Ben Grey’s eloquent post about 21st century literacies resonated with me: I believe this is where the whole notion is lost [...]

]]> By: Barbara Saunders http://bengrey.com/blog/2008/12/21st-century-confusion/comment-page-1/#comment-175 Barbara Saunders Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:59:47 +0000 http://bengrey.com/blog/?p=52#comment-175 The "21st century illiteracy" I've seen seems to reflect a shaky grasp of fundamentals. My Web developer mentioned a few weeks ago that some of her clients struggle with learning to resize an image because they do not deeply understand the concept of mathematical proportion, that is, retaining the ratio between height and width. The “21st century illiteracy” I’ve seen seems to reflect a shaky grasp of fundamentals. My Web developer mentioned a few weeks ago that some of her clients struggle with learning to resize an image because they do not deeply understand the concept of mathematical proportion, that is, retaining the ratio between height and width.

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