The biggest challenge with this inquiry was breaking down conceptually big ideas into smaller, more manageable, researchable and practical inquiry. These articles have helped me narrow my focus and also provide me with strategies to help break down conceptually heavy ideas into smaller pieces, in order for me to be able to actually identify components to fully understand my inquiry, first and foremost.
The first article I found to be a great help is titled: “Literacy and Identity: Examining the Metaphors in History and Contemporary Research.”
Moje, Elizabeth Birr et al.. “Literacy and Identity: Examining the Metaphors in History and Contemporary Research”. Reading Research Quarterly 44.4 (2009): 415–437.
This article breaks down and conceptualizes the concept of identity into five components: difference, sense of self/subjectivity, mind or consciousness, narrative and position. In order for me to be able to properly understand the concept of identity, I must break it down and research these aspects and perhaps land on on aspect of identity. Before reading this article, my focus was solely on the ‘self/subjectivity’ aspect of identity, but in reading this article I became aware that all aspects obviously needed to be touched upon in my inquiry, yet, I do feel more weight will be given on ‘the self’. I do like that each of these metaphors for identity are covered in detail. This helps me in my understanding of how identity ties in with literacy (as expressed through out the article).
I’d like for students to be given an opportunity to ‘hone’ their strengths, and understand their weaknesses. In the public sector, students go through K-12, in a co-ed, co interest, co everything type of education. I am all for an eclectic mix of student interests within a classroom. But what about in the senior levels? Just before a student sets out into the real world, shouldn’t they be provided an opportunity to truly hone their academic strengths? I believe that is educators would emphasize an awareness of the importance of knowing the self, students would be better equipped for the real world by leaving high school with a clear sense of themselves, and where they position themselves on critical issues etcetera.
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Another publication which I found to be helpful in helping me with my understanding is: “Tomorrow will not be like today”: Literacy and identity in a world of multi literacies.
http://igenlit.pbworks.com/f/williams%20multiliteracies.pdf
This article serves as a personal account of exploration within the realm of identity. It explores how literacy is an evolutionary entity and technology serves as a vehicle for ever-changing modes to literacy.
I’ve taken into account many interesting features from this article, when thinking through my inquiry. For instance:
- “Words are an integral part of today’s online world, along with images and sound, and young people read and write thousands of words each week. For many adolescents, looking at screens is a way of living.” (682)
- “Online technologies allow young people to manipulate and play with their identities.” (683)
And the article also touches on “Innovation in the classroom”, but doesn’t outline what those strategies are. The greatest take-away is the incorporation of technological literacy and how identities are shaped and formed via the ever-evolving online world. Especially young adolescents, whose lives seem to fall apart when they are away from their various technologies. I will think of ways to incorporate the use of technology as a mode of access for students to explore their identities in the classroom. I will try to infuse technology into my ‘individualized curriculum’ proposal, as not only a method of exploration of classroom material, but also a method for students to utilize technology (coding, memes, games etc.) as a viable assessed form of work.
To be read…
Lewis, C., & del Valle, A. (2008). Literacy and identity: Implications for research and practice. In Christenbury, L., Bomer, R., & Smagorinsky, P. (Eds.), Handbook of adolescent literacy research (pp. 307-322). New York: Guilford Press.
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~moje/pdf/Journal/IdentityMatters.pdf