Week 4: Harnessing New Technologies.

Last week I explored and engaged in two web2 technologies; Wordle and Tagxedo. This provided me with a valuable opportunity to explore the programmes and engage in modern technology which is, admittedly, something that I do not often do on a level deeper than that of emails and social networking. Future Lab (2010) states that recently digital technologies have become embedded in our lives and many children engage with technology on a regular basis. However, how much of this digital technology is used beneficially or even used in the classroom at all?

The National Curriculum (DFE, 2013) states that learning how to operate computers and modern technology allows children to become digitally literate. Dean (2010) agrees with this and affirms that being digitally literate is vital for children to function in current society. Moreover, DFE (2013) stipulate that though digital technology, children can express themselves and develop ideas that they can apply to future education and careers. Despite this, Merchant (2007) states that although digital technology offers opportunities, it also holds a variety of limitations. On the other hand, I believe that if children are explicitly taught how to use programmes such as Wordle and Tagxedo than they will provide valuable learning experiences. In relation to this, digital media is a central element to childrens upbringing and, therefore, it should be harnessed and promoted in a safe environment of the classroom (Future Lab, 2010).

When using a programme such as Tagxedo, I thought an interesting aspect was how you can change the shape of the word cloud to fit a list of shapes on the programme. Despite finding this programme more complex than Wordle, it offers more opportunities due to the ability to change the word clouds shape. Merchant (2007) corresponds to this and states that a key element of digital technology is how it combines modes of communication and provides new opportunities for interactive tasks. I would, perhaps, use Wordle with Key Stage One children and Tagxedo with Key Stage Two children. I would use Tagxedo in the classroom to create word clouds relating to a topic, season or creative writing. It would be useful to make cross-curricular links to Geography through using the URL function for current online news reports.

Merchant (2007) claims that digital literacy is the written representation of word, mediated by technology. In light of this, it is evident programmes such as Wordle and Tagxedo should be used in the classroom to harness the technology. In support of this, The National Curriculum (DFE, 2013) stipulates that children should be taught to be ‘responsible, competent, confident and creative users of information and communication technology’. This can be develop through the PNS (cited in Merchant, 2007), which offers creative opportunities for children to use new technologies. Although, Future Lab (2010) suggests that we should take the inequalities of these programmes into consideration when planning to use them in the classroom.

Bibliography

Dean, G. ‘Rethinking Literacy’ in Bazalgette, C. (ed) (2010) Teaching Media in Primary Classrooms London: SAGE.

Department for Education (2013) Primary National Curriculum. [Online]

Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-primary-curriculum [Accessed 17/1/2014]

Future Lab (2010) Digital Literacy across the Curriculum: (Sections 3.1 – 3.4 Digital Literacy in Practice)

Merchant, G. (2007) Writing the future in the digital age Literacy 41 (3) pp118-128 [online]

http://learn2.winchester.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/229901/mod_resource/content/1/Merchant%20-%20Writing%20the%20Future.pdf (accessed 21/01/14)