I will admit that I personally am not a fan of Harry Potter, but I am a fan how it has excited so many children (and adults!) to read challenging and intellectually (?) stimulating material. If one were to break down the complexity of the story line, Steven Johnson would be quite content that the readers of Rowling were engaging their adolescent brains in such complex works. The Hardy Boys have nothing on Harry Potter.
The FanFic genre of writing that has been inspired by the works of Rowling and the like have had such a monumental effect on the the literacy of the fans. The readers are able to discuss the works in a nonthreatening environment, where they are able to analyze texts at a very deep level. Jenkins claims, "When they discuss such stories, teen and adult fans talk openly about their life experiences, offering each other advice on more than just plot or characterization." It's analysis at a level not often seen in the traditional "brick and mortar" classroom.
Furthermore, so many classrooms are stuck in the book and chalkboard mentality. Sometimes this is due to a fear of integrating new technology or a lack of access to technology. We all see it in our school. Some are embracing technology, but face the pitfalls of the limited availability to the resources; some clutch to the way it's always been done, possibly because they see the challenges that the new technology can bring, but also because that's how it's been done for years. Jenkins discusses how "Schools are locked into a model of autonomous learning that contrasts sharply with the kinds of learning that are needed as students are entering the new knowledge cultures." He goes on to suggest that students possibly are being deskilled in the traditional classroom. It's no wonder why so many students appear to display apathy in class; they're possibly being deskilled! :)
Personally, I believe that there is a solution to this disconnect. Somewhere between the pen and pencil and the blog, we can find a happy medium where the students aren't being robbed of their skills; where they can analyze literary works at a deep level. If we treat the blog as the publication step of the writing process, the students are able to apply their formal writing skills and reach an audience larger than the teacher and the students in the class.
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Y'all are the best!14 years ago
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Questions for Harry and Heather and You14 years ago
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4 comments:
"It's no wonder why so many students appear to display apathy in class; they're possibly being deskilled! :"
That would be a quotation of Josh, including the smiley face. That is an interesting observation. I think there is something to that, for sure. The argument suggests that as we sharpen skills, as we learn new ones, there will be some natural response of pleasure or at least a feeling of self value. That makes sense. When students, or anyone for that matter, loses that "pleasure principle" that goes with learning and being good at learning something (skills), then something really important has been lost to that person.
So if it's the analysis (etc) that I'm really trying to teach, it shouldn't matter much what text I choose, as long as it's sufficiently complex to withstand scrutiny. Right?
I agree about 80% with that, but the other 20% of me wants the other things of value in so-called great texts: beauty, ambiguity, themes that speak to the human condition and may help us learn to connect and expand our preconceptions, etc. I guess I want the ethical, aesthetic, and social workouts as well as the cognitive one.
Thanks, Tom. I agree with your analysis. If the "pleasure principle" is there, they value the learning. If not, we tend to see the aformentioned apathy from some students.
This next year, I am going to continue to focus on extending the audience for the students in the form of a wiki or blog. I do not want to possbily risk deskilling anyone :) (sidebar: I hate those smiley faces).
Elissa-
I agree with your analysis. I do think that the text is important because they need to be aware of certain great texts! Even if it is not of high interest, it is still important in the real world, the world of have's and have not's. It may not always be fair, but it's a reality. They need to be exposed to classics. There's a place for all literature.
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