Literacy has changed in so many ways over the years with digital technologies. Students are being exposed to facebook and twitter on a daily basis. Most students have cell phones even in the elementary schools. With students being exposed to this type of multidemensional technology, they become bored with one dimensional technology. Students that are not reachable through general text are more engaged when they are taught with multimodal methods. Things such as youtube videos, podcasts and self running powerpoints help students to become more interested in the subject area being taught.
The DC Area Literacy Map Project was really great. It allowed teachers to undestand literacy in different spaces and places. It let teachers see how important it was to connect literacy to their students particular situations and locations.
I can totally identify with the problem with the teacher "buy in." Teachers have a hard time buying in to new technology. We first of all dont have the funding it takes to keep up with the technology equipment that we have now. They feel that it never works properly so why plan to use something that ultimately wont work and you just have to have a back up plan and a second set of lesson plans.
http://youtu.be/l9vG0GqpdQI
Very interesting video and an excellent way to teach vocabulary. I don't think anyone needs to buy the program though. Concept maps do the same thing. Have you heard of allowing kids to make video words? Another great application for PowerPoint!
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