In My Own Words, Dustin Anderson: Digital Literacy

In My Own Words, Dustin Anderson: Digital Literacy

“Simply put, we can’t keep preparing students for a world that doesn’t exist. We can’t keep ignoring the formidable cognitive skills they’re developing on their own. And above all, we must stop disparaging digital prowess just because some of us over 40 don’t happen to possess it. An institutional grudge match with the young can sabotage an entire culture.”

 This quote from Dustin Anderson reminds me of most of the elder people in my family. They always talk about how our generation is lazy because of technology, but truth be told we can’t help it it is what it is. Technology has evolved and it is the norm of this generation. You will not find anyone without having a phone, ipod, ipad, etc. in their hands. Not only is technology used as entertainment, but it is also used for educational purposes. And if a student is unable to operate these technologies they are in trouble. They will not be able to keep up in this society with all of the advances of technology.  Basically this quote means that we can’t say that technology is hindering students if our world is becoming more and more depended on technology. We have to start getting more familiar with the new technologies being made. And for the people over 40 (the elder people in my family) should not criticize us because they don’t understand how to use the technology. They should not try to get use from stop using it, but instead learn how to use it themselves.

Literacy Timeline

Literacy Timeline

(My Mom is the Bomb)

I don’t remember everything about becoming literate, so I tried my best to remember some of the details:

• My mom was a stay at home mom who always but her time and love into me
• She taught me mostly everything I know, she felt it was her responsibility to teach me and push me to become a very successful young woman.
•  I Learned the alphabet with the cutout colorful letters my mom glued on construction paper
•  I Started getting hooked on phoenix with the flash cards my mom made
• I Learned how to count with colorful hair clips my mom called counts
• My favorite book was Will You Always Take Care of Me at night with mom, my mother would always read books at night with me
•  Started reading Pooh Bear Books, if I messed up on a word my mom would make read the page over and over until I got it right. (Don’t start getting lazy)
• I hated when she would make me read over and over but now I know I was just to make me stronger and to get me where I am today
• Became a very strong reader for my age, asked to skip 2^nd grade
• Before I knew it I was writing book reports for school and getting good grades on them; my favorite was on the Life Cycle of a Monarch Butterfly
• Started not to like reading and not as strong as I use to, but gained an interest in math
• Now I want to become an electrical engineer; furthering my education at Oakland University

Two Questions: Summary & Response

Trying to please others is a real dread, it can suck the fun out of everything and make you second guess yourself. Two Questions by Lynda Barry is a cartoon about how she lost her passion for drawing and writing.  She use to have fun drawing and writing until the two questions; is this good or does this suck? affected her attitude toward her drawing and writing. When she was a kid she never cared about how her drawing and writing turned out; it was just something she did that made her good. Her feelings started to change when people started to give their opinions about what she drew. A drawing that she thought was good was actually bad. So she spent most of her life trying to just draw good drawings, which made drawing not fun for her anymore. When she stopped worrying about was her drawings good or not, she was able to loosen up and get the floating feeling she felt when she was a kid. I can relate to this cartoon; growing up I loved writing, it use to make me feel free and like I can do anything. When I would write words would just flow and fit together like a puzzle. But know my words don’t flow like I want them to because I always think what if the person that will be reading this doesn’t like it. Thinking about it I always ask myself the two questions; is this good or does this suck? But if I loosen up and not worry is it good or not my words may just start flowing on the paper and I will love writing like I use to.

What Is Writing Important?

Wanting to become an electrical engineer it is very important for me to have strong math skills. So I never focused on strengthen my writing skills. But writing skills are very essential to the engineering field. It is one form of communication that will come in handy. If I come up with an idea or do I project I will have to write up explaining what I did. Since I want to become an electrical engineer my writing and communication skills will have to be on top of the charts. I may have to travel and tell others about the plans that I have for a certain product. I feel that my writing and communication skills will have to improve to become an electrical engineer. And the only way I can improve my skills is to practice and continue writing.