I’ve never fully considered how home literacy practices can impact successful literacy learning at school, but after the readings, I was able to apply it to my own experiences. It’s very normal for Korean families to sign up their children for extracurriculars. These extracurriculars are often extra math lessons, writing lessons, or related subjects you would see in school to improve your grades. My mother signed me up for these paid programs and also bought additional homework books from the bookstore (which were typically Math, English, and/or French) that I was to complete once every few days. As a personal hobby, I enjoyed reading fiction novels. Although I hated the extra homework at the time, I found that being disciplined in that way while also being encouraged to read lots of my favorite books made my work habits more efficient once I was actually at school. Since I read and wrote so often, it seemed less like an instructed process and more like an enjoyable, familiar activity. Like Kral and Schwab’s article discusses, it’s important that marginalized groups are provided with supportive resources where independent learning can be accessed. Not having access to digital technologies was one factor I have assumed would put an individual at a learning disadvantage, but I did not previously realize the extent of how other aspects mentioned in the article, such as spatial control, play an extensive roles in our lives.
Gilliard’s article made me reflect on how much information is limited because of the filters on web-based resources. On one hand, it filters out potentially harmful and inappropriate web searches, but just like the example of the student attempting to undergo research on revenge porn (which is an extremely relevant issue), when certain topics are being researched for educational and good-intentioned purposes, these blocks become unhelpful because they limit our knowledge on significant matters. I think schools should continue to be aware of how digital redlining may introduce possible discrimination/biases that create learning inequities by filtering information that would otherwise be beneficial to those disadvantaged groups.
madelineosgarby
Hi Claire,
I like what you said about the Gilliard article. Redlining and Digital redlining were new terms for me. I talked about digital redlining in my post as well and discussed the negatives of algorithms and how they âreinforce the boundaries of race, class, ethnicity, and genderâ (Gilliard and Culik, 2016). It was unfortunate to read that despite the history of redlining and its digital resurrection to reinforce boundaries, this problem is not an urgent educational issue. This was shocking to me as a future teacher who is interested in integrating as much edtech as possible for meaningful and engaging learning experiences. Since digital redlining is integrated into some edtech to produce discriminatory results, I will be thoroughly researching each program I want to use in the classroom before putting it in front of my students.
Great topic 3 post!
aydenweber
Hi Claire,
I agree with your views on the Gillard and Culik article: Digital Redlining, Access and Privacy. I feel as though filtering information can be both positive and negative, depending on the situation. As a future elementary school teacher, I think itâs important to protect our young students’ safety by filtering information on the internet that could be harmful to them. On the other hand, I believe that filtering and limiting resources at the college level is not acceptable. In order to learn, grow, and create opportunities for themselves in the future, all post-secondary students should be able to research and have access to information on any subject, as well as the resources to do so. Limiting some people’s access is how certain groups of people stay marginalized which is not acceptable. I am so glad that I learned about digital redlining and the inequality it places on groups of people. Itâs important to be knowledgeable and aware about the inequalities that I could encounter in my future classrooms.
tsokwa
Great reflection on this week’s readings Claire!
Reflecting on your own personal experience, it’s also clear to me that creating an inquisitive mindset in learners from an early age helps with school work. I did not do a lot of reading as a young child, and to this day it’s not my favorite thing to do. I think I could have benefited from better home literacy practices.
I agree that independent learning is critical, especially for groups who may find certain information inaccessible.
Web-resource filtering is a double-edged sword because it prevents learners from inappropriate content while interfering with important educational research. I do wonder how educators can walk this thin line, surely there should be measures in place to make critical information readily available.
Jordyn
Hi Claire!
Thank you so much for adding your personal touch to this weeks post. I love it when I can learn more about my pod members personal lives as they connect it to our learning. Itâs very interesting that you were given the opportunities to explore your learning further at home, and although I am sure I wouldnât have liked it as much at first either, the long term benefits must have been so great for you-I wish I would have had that opportunity! My step sister is dyslexic, and as this September she is heading into high school, she was given extra work, specifically in reading and writing, to ensure she is ready and prepared for her next step! I definitely want to share your post with her to help her understand that other students have done, and are doing, extra work just like her, and that all that it does is prepare you better for a successful future!
For the second part of your post, I wholeheartedly agree that limiting access to useful resources merely because there is content that âtheyâ consider to be harmful or discriminatory can be extremely limiting to students. Unfortunately there is discrimination everywhere we look, and as a future teacher I will definitely make it my responsibility to consider these limitations when exploring edtech inside and outside the classroom!