New Literacy Classroom-Kist

William Kist believes that as English teachers, we must develop a new literacy classroom. This would be a classroom that focuses on new aspects of literature and communication that are constantly becoming available to students. Kist discusses his own experience of learning that film could be a means of communication and believes that students should feel the same revelation about new aspects of literacy. Throughout the article, Kist outlines several characteristics of a pedagogy for new literacy. In this blog I will outline a few that I believe to be the most important and question some of those that I may not understand or do not believe to be effective.
The first point that Kist makes is the rationale for new literacy in the classroom. Kist points out the obvious when he states that students are being bombarded with new forms of literacy and communication in our current culture. The internet, instant messaging, youtube, facebook, and more outlets have provided students with new ways to communicate, be communicated with, and to show expression. Kist points out that in the classroom, all modes of communication should be represented and acknowledged. Kist also goes on to talk about something that has been addressed in many of my previous blogs. Kist discusses students understanding of the purpose of each of these new methods of communication. Kist says that students must be encouraged to question the motivation and reason for each topic that is displayed in these new forms of media. Students must even question the reason for different forms of media and why each is appealing or not appealing to them. Another question that Kist believes that students must ask is what other forms of media did this form stem from and what other forms could it lead to.
Kist later points out that the new literacy classroom should balance individual and collaborative activities. Each of these types of activites are essential for the growth of students' understanding of new literacy. Kist points out that in a classroom where mass instruction must take place, teachers should allow students a freedom of choice in instruction. One way to do this would be create projects that allow students to choose their own medium of communication. Currently, this would mean that students should be allowed to choose between powerpoint, hypertext, film, instant messaging essays, or another medium of their choice. Kist says that in this classroom that promotes individual choice, there must also be built in social interaction. Each student brings different knowledge to a classroom, the sharing of this knowledge can lead to better understanding for all students about new literacy and what it means to different students. Social interaction and collaboratively learning benefit each student in the class and often help the teacher become more acquainted with new literacy. Balancing individual and collaborative work is a key component of the new literacy classroom.
Kist says that a classroom in which the individuality of each student will allow students to become more involved in their work and more motivated. A teacher allowing students to make choices about their work will allow them to show their individualization and to represent themselves in a way that they believe is accurate. Teachers should tap into what makes students become involved with their favorite forms of media outside of school and attempt to access this involvement within the classroom. Kist goes on to discuss how collaborative classrooms could have an effect on the individuality of each student. Kist says that the new literacy classroom should consist of immersion in practices by a community of learners that realize that each of them to play multiple and different roles that would be influenced by their backgrounds and experiences. kist suggests that a portfolio of students individual and collaborative work should be kept so that students can see their movement towards new literacy. One possible way of doing this would be through a multi-genre essay or portfolio in which students engage in a variety of media and use these media to project themselves and their experiences. In this extended portfolio, students will learn to use a variety of symbols to express their beliefs. This variety of symbols will introduce students to new ways of expressing themselves. Often, these new ways of expression can be learned from other students in the classroom and the expertise that they bring. One difficult issue for teachers, especially in a middle or high school setting would be determining acceptable symbols and methods of expression for students. However, teachers should give as much room for expression as they possibly can. This form of new literacy that allows different forms of expression for students can also serve as a way for teachers to close the gap between them and their students, by allowing teachers to learn more about each student's interest and their feelings.
There was one point in Kist's article that I struggled to understand, though there is likely an applicable use for it. The idea of ongoing metadialogues and cognative pluralism was something that I could not get a grip on or understand. I understand the argument that Kist makes in this section about students being proficient in methods such as graphs and charts just as they are in understanding painting, literature, and sculpture but I fail to see the connection between this and the rest of the section. I found the rest of the article to be very accurate and beneficial. Although I think that Kist focuses a bit too much on the individualization of students I can understand his point of view. I disagree with him focusing more on this individualization than on collaborative work, though. It is my opinion that collaborative work is the most important work that takes place in the classroom and Kist addresses collaborative work and its importance but chooses to focus more on student individualization. I believe that Kist makes very good points about student involvement and engagment. He references student choice in assignments and acknowledges the importance of students being able to bring their own background and experience into their work and the classroom. This is another concept, along with collaborative work, that I believe to be essential to the classroom. It is my opinion that with an effective balance of collaborative assignments and individuality in the classroom, students can receive the maximum benefit of the new literacy classroom.