LIT 5083 Module 5 reflection

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Dec 6, 2023

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LIT 5083 Module 5 Course Reflection American College of Education LIT 5083 New Literacies in Curriculum Integration July 30, 2023 1

LIT 5083 Module 5 Course Reflection In order to proficiently meet the needs of my students, thematic units can be a great way to teach multiple skills and standards and fully engage students, immersing them in their own learning. Before this course I was aware that I was lacking technology in my classroom and that all students need more technology incorporated into their day-to-day lives if we expect them to become contributing citizens of the 21 st century. I have chrome books in the classroom and my students complete their prescribed 45 minutes a week of their math and reading program but that used to be the extent of technology in the classroom. “Technology has become a fundamental part of our daily lives, being infused into entertainment, business, workforce, and educational environments” (Harris, 2023). However, through this course I have learned that technology is not enough. Students need many different types of literacies including visual, economic, health, scientific, digital, financial, and critical. This thematic unit enabled me to look at my students’ needs while looking towards their future. I was able to incorporate literacies and activities that will assist them in being successful students, employees, and citizens in the 21 st century. My thematic unit was teamwork. Research has shown that collaborative learning can promote academic and social educational outcomes (Johnson, Johnson, & Smith, 2007). Not only is teamwork a skill that is needed in students’ academic careers, but it is also a valuable skill in the workplace and in society. I also feel that teamwork is a theme that can easily be used throughout lessons and activities. Digital and visual literacy were the first to be used to teach teamwork. These were the two that came most naturally and mirrored lessons that I have taught before. The visual display of information is a whole brain activity (Brake, 2015). Digital literacy is one in which students have an increasing knowledge and desire to use. However, making sure 2

that the educational value of this literacy is present is the real challenge. While most students are familiar with social media, YouTube, and Instagram, making good and educational use of these can be quite the challenge. Science and health literacy are ones that I have never put much thought into as far as the classroom is concerned. I never deemed it my responsibility to incorporate these into my teaching and I was wrong. Having an elderly father who is unable to take care of his own medical needs, I can now see the importance of incorporating these into the classroom. He has deemed himself too far gone to catch up and learn now therefore he relies on others for his own health and wellness. For students to be literate in their health, they should begin at an early age. In my lesson, students are using the five senses to ask questions about items with their group. They are using science concepts, questioning, and working together in order to find facts. While this may not relate directly to overseeing one’s own health, it is a step in the right direction. Scientific literacy reflects “a broad and functional understanding of science for general education purposes” (DeBoer, 2000, p. 594). This literacy is one that is often skipped over in schools with lower reading and math achievement. However, to skip these literacies could possibly be a clear indicator of a future health crisis. The most difficult literacy for me to use in my thematic unit of teamwork was economic and financial literacy. While I do understand the need for these, first grade standards and current curriculum do little to ensure that our students are taught these valuable literacies. However, after planning these lessons and activities, I can see how these literacies can be taught with proper planning and without taking much time from the required standards that are to be taught. My lesson had students working in groups to purchase items from a classroom store. The counting and money standards were coupled with the teamwork standard and complimented each other 3

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