Introduction
New Game Hits Shelves! TeacherTech2K5
Next-Gen Student Domination
Next-Gen Student Domination
You are already freaking out, and you have only read the title.
“But what is TeacherTech2K5?? And what is a next-gen student?! Why are we talking about a new video game, when I was trying to do research on new literacies?!? We’re talking? I thought I was reading!”
Don’t worry; it’s ok. Calm down. From here on out I promise to do my best to present this information in a formal style from which you may gather all the knowledge to all the questions that just exploded in your brain. Unfortunately, the main point is that with a simple title based on new literacies, dozens of questions just exploded in your brain. Let me take a step back and explain who you are; there are pretty much only two options here: (1) You are an educator seeking to better understand the recent buzzwords you keep hearing, “new literacies”, and you are quite unfamiliar with any digital media beyond Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and/or Excel, or (2) you are somewhat in-touch with society and you knew instantly that the title of this paper is a parody of ESPN’s line of sports video games (NCAA, NFL, NBA, MLB2K5, etc.) as well as any number of action video games where a first person shooter saves the world from some kind of imminent doom.
I lost you again didn’t I? (From here on I will assume you are person #1.)
“What is a first-person shooter? I still don’t know what 2K5 means!!”
Alright, listen, 2K5 is an abbreviation for the year 2005. Get it? K is a standard abbreviation for thousand so you read 2K5 as “two-thousand-five”. Now that wasn’t so tough was it? Of course not. ESPN just combined a few common symbols to create a clever, relevant (we’ll discuss this later) title to market their yearly reinvented and renovated sports games to the youngster hooked on electronics. You probably could have even figured it out on your own! The problem is not so much your ability then, so much as your familiarity; however, at this point, I am sure that I am ahead of myself and I still have not even begun to present any kind of formal presentation of material. Plus, you are still freaking out a little bit and I really do want this to be helpful. Alas, welcome to the world of new literacies; a world with few and quite bendable rules, but just enough of the old stuff thrown in that with a few helpful tricks, you will be navigating the new seas in no time.
Questions:
1.) What do you already know about blogs and/or new literacies?
2.) What questions do you currently have about the paper and what I'm about to talk about?
3.) What would you change about the introduction? What do you like or dislike?
posted by Jon at 3:35 PM
15 Comments:
1) I have to confess, I don't know a whole lot about blogs and have never heard of "new literacies". Being as "technology impared" as I am, I know that blogs are simply places where people, usually teenagers on Myspace, etc., can post their feelings, ideas, poems, etc. and other people can read them and comment on them..
2) By just reading the Introduction I'm a little lost as to what exactly you are doing. However, that's ok, it's just an introduction. I think we should be having plenty of questions at this point. The more questions, the more I'm willing to read on PAST the intro.
3) I love that it is in typical "blog style". Almost like a stream of consciousness. A TON of voice. But I'm still left a little confused. All of the skipping around and tip-toeing around the actual question of "What is a blog/ new literacy?" leads my mind a little scattered.
1) I know "blog" is short for "web log" cause I have one. Blogs are kind of like online journals that people can write whatever they want or post whatever pictures they want. I just talked to you so now I know what a new literacy is now...
2) I was kind of confused about what the paper was about at first. I was thinking that maybe you were creating some sort of program that helps teachers in the classroom. I figure that was the intention of the introduction anyhow though.
3) I like how the introduction is very personable. It reads just like you talk.
1. i know a bit about blogs i guess, seeing as how i have one. but i really only know the basics of livejournal. i think blogs are a good way to express yourself and keep up with people who are interested in your expression. i have never heard the term "new literacies" and i can only assume because you paired them in the question with blogs that they have something to do with each other.
2.i'll agree with the other comments and say that i was quite confused at the beginning, and i still am. but i'll also agree, that if that was all an introduction it would make me ask questions and hopefully prompt me to continue reading. i think you need to find a balance between confusing people and prompting questions that will pull them along. also, this is the english major in me, but i would change the sentence that says "The problem is not so much your ability then, so much as your familiarity; however, at this point," to "the problem is not your ability then, so much as..." to eliminate the redundant "so much as"
3. i think i answered that in number 2.
1- I really don't know much about Blogs either. I have heard of them, but I havent ever taken part in them, or even know much about how to for that matter
2) The beggining is a little bit confusing, but I think that is actually kind of effective. Because it is a little confusing, it drew me in to try and figure out what you were talking about, and I would keep readng past what you wrote as well.
3) Overall very good, like I said, draws me in.
1) I have heard and read a few blogs, although I am against the use of the term blog which I find to be much too lazy. I know that there has been some valuable information gleened from weblogs previously (as in the memo-gate scandal). I also know that the chief meteorologist from weather.com has a weblog available to discuss such things as natural disasters.
2) I was a little worried when I read the introduction because it seemed to go nowhere. I have never heard of 'new literacies' and had no idea what they could be. I was intrigued by the fact that there were no answers of any kind in the entire process. Ah-ha, that is where we come in.
3)Your introduction talks down to the 'stereotypical' teacher from 1995. Your explanation of the term 2k5 is more helpful than any other piece of information that is contained in the entire introduction. Good luck with this project or whatever it turns out to be.
1. I dont know much at all about blogs. I have also never heard of "new literacies". All i do know is blogs is where you go and imput all kinds of different information and things you wish to share.
2. I must admit it is a little vague but in this situation it might just be a good thing. A good way to set the reader up. Also goes along with the "blog" style.
3. I love the style used in the paper. Its different and is almost like random thoughts but then again it is about blogs.
1) well....nothing
2) I can pretty much tell that you're going to get into some type of new electronic communications subject, but not exactly what
3) I wouldn't assume quite so much that the reader is entirely clueless, but I did like the personal feel
1) I already know a decent amount about blogs etc. I have never had one, but I know a few people who have, and I have read their "blogs" from time to time.
2) I have no clue what type of paper it is... ie i wish i knew the writing prompt.
3) It seems way to informal and I am sick of being insulted by the time i am finished. You introduction has completely convinced me not to read the rest of your paper
1) I know what blogs are cause I have one, but mine's just a way for me to kinda let go of some thoughts and maybe encourage others. I didn't know people used blogs for purposes other than journaling, but its a great idea!! I have no idea what new literacies means.
2) Well since I don't know what new literacies means I would hope that you would be explaining that .. I have tons of questions cause I'm a little confused
3) I like that you are writing just as you would speak. It sounds like you, but its much easier to understand when you are speaking. I think this is what led to lots of my confusion.
1)I also do not know a lot about blogs or "new literacies" at all. I can use them but...the purpose of them is very unclear to me.
2)I don't really know what's going on with this page. I have a lot of questions about the purpose for this page and what does blogs and "new literacies" have to do with education and how will they further education?
3) Very scattered brain but I do like how it is real and it reads like a conversation.
Hey, ok. let's see.
1) I know what a blog is, I have several blogs myself. But I've never heard the term "new literacies" until just now.
2)Um, well the intro definitely captures my attention, but of course me not knowing what you're talking about, I'm still lost as to what you're talking about and where you're going. So I guess my question for this is "what??" and "please explain b/c I'm having a cow!"
3)I like the intro. Like I said it captures my attention and keeps me waiting for you to elaborate. And the language is very down to earth and blog-esque, as if you were just thinking this out and writing it down, or as if you were really talking to me. Since I don't know what the rest of the paper is like it's kinda hard to decide if you should change the intro in any way. but it seems good as far as I can see.
Good luck, Jon!
1. When blogs started, I wasn't too interested. They seemed just like another distraction like AIM, Skype, or FACEBOOK! They seemed just like another new way that a middle school girl or boy could announce to everyone that they were single and looking. But recently, my outlook has changed. People have actually used blogs to encourage and enlighten. People use blogs to get out all the thoughts that build up inside. (Be careful) I have seen recently people recieve job oppurtunities by employers reading their blog. Blogs have interested me lately to the point where I have been looking in to having my own.
2. When I read the title, almost automatically my mind thought, "hmmm, i wonder if this will make life easier." So even the rest was cloudy, I kept reading, searching to find what exactly it was that could potentially make my life more managable.
3. I like the personal side to the inroduction. I like how it really seems like I am having a conversation with the writer. Although, that can only keep my attention for so long. Be sure to get to the point!
1. I'm not quite sure what a blog is, only that it's something you write on on the internet. I have never heard the term "new literacies."
2. I'm a little confused, but eager to read on...
3. I really like the style of the paper, like it's an actual conversation with the reader. Much more interesting than expected.
I know that a blog is an online journal where you can write whatever and see everything that everyone else writes in return. Othere than that I am pretty much lost. Your introduction was good because it sparked interest, but I was not sure just quite what you were writing about.
1. blogs: i know it is possible for every person who sits a computer (with an internet connection), now matter how infrequently to setup a personal blog. i know the vast majority of bloggers are teenagers. the second largest group of users are aged i'd guess from 21-30. folks who grew up with the internet basically. blogs can have both positive and negative effects. there are many horror stories of folks posting too much personal infor on the blog, and then being victims of identity theft. then again, having a blog can help you showcase your writing abilities to the world, is you are an aspiring writer...or if you are an artist in another medium, you can show your work through a blog, and receive large amounts of exposure all over the world.
2. questions on the paper: what exactly are you trying to answer or prove or explore? why are you writing this paper?
3. introduction: if whqat i just read was the info, i think it is important to clearly explain what new liyeracies are. to say, blogs, video games, etc are considered new literacies, and then go on to define new literacies. this needs to be clear, because by the end, i still had no idea what they were. i like the familiar tone you use. but i think your ideas kind of jump around very quickly... and there are a lot of exclamation points, which i felt were a little unecessary as i was fairly confused. but that i know whats going on...im way interested in the paper.
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