Media, Information Communication Technologies, and Youth Literacy

Alverman, Donna E. (2004). Media, information communications technologies, and youth literacies: A Cultural Studies Perspective. American Behavioral Scientist, 48 (78), 78-83, http://abs.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/48/1/78, DOI: 10.1177/0002764204267271

Abstract Review

Summary:

This article discusses the connection to informational communication technologies (ICT’s), internet, videos, multimedia, interactive devices, etc. and how youth literacy is affected. The study states that youth are extremely vulnerable to many types of ICT’s and are extremely media literate. The article also discusses the affects of how youth in middle and high school now have various points of view versus only a printed textbook, which in some cases tend to be one sided.

The study also incorporates the idea of hypermedia-an amalgam of hypertext and multimedia. Hypermedia is part of the youth culture all around us. As for students they can not only create and manipulate movable text but also images sounds, movies, etc. The article suggests that most teachers are uncomfortable with untraditional media and do not utilize it to the varying potentials and are missing out tapping in on a part of the youth’s culture in the classroom.

Evaluation:

There did not seem to be conclusive piece of evidence derived from this study. It did not mention groups tested, questioned, surveyed, etc. The exact focus of the study was also unclear. The author speaks little about the affect on teachers, students, and the use of hypermedia. It does make some mention to the fact that most teachers are resistant to the use of media in the classroom. But the author never states any concrete data or evidence to back up this idea. The relationship and the importance of literacy, media, and student learning is unclear and vague. Overall I did not find the article to be very helpful or useful.

Reflection:

I would have to agree with the authors point that tapping into youth’s media environment is useful and can reinforce additional points of view, resources, and research values. Yet I also believe that sometimes the youth of today is so inundated with media that their needs to be some another means to the end if you will. I think youth still need to be challenged in a variety of instructional ways. This allows the students to have a variety of options available when solving various problems.