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Literaturereviewdomaina
Literaturereviewdomaina
Literaturereviewdomaina
William Mayoral
TED 690
National University
LITERATURE REVIEW 2
Abstract
This paper is a review of David Kirkland’s article, “Researching and Teaching English in the
Digital Dimension” This was a selected reading to help highlight TPE Domain A 1B from the
California Teaching Performance Expectations. This paper is taking a look on how to apply
In this article David Kirkland writes about understanding pedagogy in a digital age.
Kirkland’s purées of this piece was to say, “While these waves have been helpful in describing
and pushing classroom borders, they alone are no longer sufficient for describing pedagogical
space in the digital moment.” (Kirkland 2009) He means to say that teaching pedagogy needs to
push forward with the digital revolution, so that we may meet the needs of our students in a new
digital landscape.
What Kirkland tries to bring to light in this paper is that we need to understand that our
traditional figures of in school text/ out school text has changed. The way in which our students
access information has revolutionized. Our students are beginning to consume more and more
material outside the boudoirs of education, and it is up to us as educators to assess this input and
output. Students are not just reading information online, but they themselves are creating content
that we can read and understand. The traditional boundaries of professional learning environment
Kirkland goes on to say, “There is a growing body of research that illustrates how space
in the digital dimension looks (Alvermann, 2008; Brass, 2008; Lewis & Fabos, 2005). This work
showcases today's youth interacting beyond physical borders (Alvermann, 2008; Knobel &
Lankshear, 2008). It shows youth participating in virtual communities such as Facebook and
SecondLife, building complex new social lives while remaining firmly affixed to existing ones.
This work is important because, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, more
than half of what it calls "online teens," or teens who use the Internet, use social networks and
have created online profiles (Lenhart & Madden, 2007). For these youth, "Social networking
sites are places to reinforce pre-existing friendships" and for "making new friends" (p. 1).”
(Kirkland 2009) Our students are now interacting with language and communicating with
LITERATURE REVIEW 4
language in different ways. We as English teachers need to try and tap into these outlets. By
being able to access these outlets we will see a more whole picture of how our students are
acquiring and using language outside of school and inside a digital realm.
Kirkland finishes this piece by saying, “It should not be lost, however, that within the
digital dimension, literacy is also reshaped. Online is a place of words and pictures, signs and
symbols that help to express the fragility of our existence and the brilliance of our human bonds.
Therefore, in ELA, we must seek to better understand extra space so that it can be put to better
use for new century pedagogical purposes-chiefly to enhance and update ELA researching and
teaching.”(Kirkland 2009) As English teacher’s we always need to be aware of the digital world
that revolves around us and our students. Language is always changing, communication is
evolving, and the way our students are interacting with the world and each other are evolving.
We as educators need to be aware of this so that we can apply this to our students education.
LITERATURE REVIEW 5
References
search.proquest.com.liucat.lib.liu.edu/docview/215343715?accountid=12142