I was always of the view that literacy cannot be defined without the inclusion of technology and this course put that into perspective. I want to fuse both topics as the latter is integral in redefining literacy. Also, how could I forget the definition of literacy and the advent of eBooks. As a result, I was able to make connections with how I am currently teaching the netgen and the cutting-edge tools and applications involved. As a result, of this course, I was able to zoom in on the netgeneration and contextualized my current situation. From then I realized that every technology actually feeds off another.Įxploring digital natives also resonated with me and my current practice. The connections made were so clear and vivid and the transitions from the former to the latter were obvious and put into perspective throughout for example, the movement from writing on the walls of cave to hypertext especially when one considers that our written identity is, like hypertext, dynamic, flexible, and contingent.” (Bolter, 2001, p.190). In addition, it was amazing how this course brings the past and present so close. Today’s generation relies on technology for memory and also use it as external brains. When I compared what existed now and then as it relates to memorizing concepts, I realized that there were tremendous benefits in those oral societies. I am still very concerned about this erosion of culture by technology but never looked at it from postman’s viewpoint. In addition, I was fascinated by the discussions and readings centered around the invasion of our culture by technology or Postman’s technopoly as it relates to the cultural disturbances because of the sudden extension of communication technologies (Neil Postman, Technopoly, 1992). After careful analysis, I started reflecting on topics I discussed with my students in class about oral tradition and the impact it had on memorizing concepts. As I weighed my thoughts, I realized I was viewing the situation from my viewpoint since I am a part of a print culture. It was there and then that I was puzzled and wondering how could such a situation exist. This opened up my eyes and took me way back to the situation that existed during the times when my ancestors were taken from Africa and placed in the Caribbean to work as slaves. First, I never thought about a culture where everything is done orally and print is absent. However, after engaging with the reading, it started to fully register and resonate with me. I am an instructor of literacy so I was very upbeat about orality and literacy even though I wasn’t too familiar with the term orality. However, after delving in the rich discussions and readings, I was naturally drawn to the course and never let go ever since. What an epic journey this has been! When I just started out, I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into.
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