A9.5: Week 9 Reflection

Aims and objectives:  This week I wanted to do further research for my MRP.  I also wanted to decide which genre to do next, and how to revise my project prospectus.  Additionally, I wanted to pace myself with each assingment to spread them out throughout the week and get them done on time.

Declarative Knowledge: This week I first learned what genre I was going to do next.  I also learned about branching literacy.  I learned that branching literacy deals with spatial orientation in cyberspace.  I also learned that there are certain skills a person must possess in orer to be branching literate.  If someone does not have these skills, then it would be easy for them to “get lost” when using things such as the Internet and searching for information.

Procedural Knowledge: In order to choose which genre would be my forth, I had to look at the remaining genres for the MRP that I have not yet completed.  To make the Observation report I referred to the Observation Reports that we use in our lab.  Next, I had to create the genre as a page, save it, and then publish it.  I then had to send the link to the class list for them to preview it.  To peer review Abby and Alyssa’s third genres I had to separately go to their weblogs, review the third genre, and then using the comment feature post a comment concerning the voice, audience, say back, bless, and audience of their work; I then saved the comment on about their third genres.  To find out more about branching literacy, I conducted a search on the Internet.  Unlike, the other forms of literacy we have been studying, I found this to be the one with the least amount of information.  However, once learning about branching literacy I posted my reflection about it concerning what I found out, what my reaction was to certain skills with the literacy, and how it will change schooling/education.  I then saved and published the post.  In order to revise my project prospectus I first met with Mrs. McComas and discussed how to revise my essential and foundation questions.  After the meeting I created a new page and made the changes that we discussed. 

Conditional Knowledge: Doing the Observation Report as my 4th genre will help me for completing my project, and give me addtional practice with writing goals, objectives, behaviors, and impressions.  Completing the peer reviews will help with analyzing my own work.  Learning about branching literacy was very interesting, and will help me develop searching skills along with learning how to better navigate in digital space.  Revising my prospectus will help me think about the question in a different way.  I now understand that essential questions should not contain any type of bias.  This will help me in the future when coming up with research questions.

A9.3: Branching Literacy

Prior to this assignment I don’t really have any knowledge of what branching literacy is.  Unlike the other literacy’s we have learned about and researched, I thought this one was the one with the least amount of available information.  However, through some searching I found, according to an article in the European Journal of Open, Distance and E-learning, branching literacy the ability to avoid getting lost in hyperspace, despite the intricate navigation paths.  They also refer to this type of literacy by “hypermedia literacy skills.”  According to the EURODL branching literate people have good multidimensional spatial orientation, good metaphoric thinking, the ability to create concept maps and other abstract structures, and the ability to overcome disorientation in hypermedia places.  

Like all of the other literacy’s, I agree that there are certain skills a person must possess to be branching literate.  I feel like I have learned more about this type of literacy and these skills through this class and conducting research for my MRP.  Finding articles is fairly easy, however once you have found those articles getting back to them is sometimes difficult.  I had to know what database I used, what keywords/phrase I used in order to find that exact article.  Working at the library, people have trouble with this type of task often.  I also find myself wandering in cyberspace sometimes when I don’t mean to.  Luckily for me, I know how to find my way back to what I was originally looking for.  I can see if someone was not very branching literate how it would be easy to get lost with the technology.

Similar to the other literacy’s, I feel that branching literacy has and will continue to change schooling/education.  When using any form of technology branching literacy skills are vital to effectively using the devices.  As we have and will continue to become a more technological world, children will have to learn the skills to use and not “get lost” in cyberspace.  I am not aware if there are currently any specific classes in early education for this type of literacy, but as college students we attended a session at the library that showed us where to locate certain articles, books, etc. and helped us learn how to navigate around cyberspace; we were also told how to get out of things when we “got lost.”  When I was in elementary school I remember going to the computer lab, and our teachers would tell us how to use the programs.  I would assume they do the same thing now, possibly with the Internet.  Technology has changed the way we do a lot of things, and branching literacy is a very necessary skill for students, professionals, and people in general to possess.