Part I Core I

I have been using computers ever since I was a young child. My first memory of using them is when I was in kindergarten. My class would make trips to our schools computer lab and play educational games that taught us basic reading, writing and math skills. Since mine is a generation where the majority of us have practically grown up with a mouse in our hand I know how to work my way around a computer with ease.

I am not a master of technology by any means but I know enough to be able everything I need to. I was taught Microsoft Office in my seventh grade computer class and can easily make a spread sheet, power point or word document. Through the years I have developed the ability to be able to dig up any information on Google. I can use my MacBook's photo and email applications. I have had a cell phone since ninth grade and am now totally dependent on my iPhone for everything. I check my mail, facebook and daily news on it and it keeps me organized.

That is about it for me as far as technology goes. I feel like I know everything I need to know and don't care to know much more. I don't have much interest in learning how to anything else. I don't want to learn how to use a Kindle because I love reading books and don't think that they should ever be replaced by technology. Everything I know how to do on computers I have learned to do because I have interest in it so everything that I haven't learned how to do I don't have much interest in learning. I would like to learn all the commands that go along with my Mac because I know that there are countless ones that I do not know how to use. I would also like to learn how to work an application where I can make movies on my computer.

Connecting the Digital Dots: Literacy of the 21st Century.

The authors of this article talk about how the definition of literate means a completely different thing prior to the 21st century then it does now. Before the 21st century began being literate was defined simply as a person's "ability to read and write." In present day however, a literate person must "possess digital competencies to effectively navigate the multidimensional and fast-paced digital environment." In other words the authors are saying that to be considered educated in this day and age you must be able to know how to navigate a computer and be able to use all of its applications.

In writing this article Jones-Kavaller and Flannigan are reaching out to the digital and visual "illiterates" to help them to understand how children today are being brought up. The older generation is feeling left in the dark and vulnerable when it comes to technology because they never grew up around anything like computers. The authors are explaining to this older generation that children are being taught how to use these technologies throughout their whole lives and that they actually make life a little bit easier.