"New Media" in the English Classroom

The majority of my experience with “academic writing” comes from high school. I wrote a few papers for various social science classes, but most of the things I wrote were focused on analyzing literature for English class. Most of the essays were structured the same: five paragraphs with a thesis statement in the introduction and a conclusion. For AP English we wrote so many practice AP test essays that were all exactly the same (pick two elements of style in the passage and describe them in a four paragraph essay), so for any other “writing” assignments my teacher gave us a variety of mediums to use. For a couple of assignments we could make videos, compile an album of songs, or make a PowerPoint. I liked the different options we were allowed to explore because they were a nice departure from monotonous essays.

I think that by introducing “new media” into English classrooms, as my AP English teacher started to do, it would allow student to further explore aspects of literature and composition. It would definitely “challenge” traditional writing because it would help to get students more excited about assignments if they are allowed to choose different methods and be more creative. Also, as Jeff Rice described in “Networks and New Media,” which we discussed on Tuesday, different forms of media will allow students to make more and different connections and relationships that simply writing on paper does not provide.

Another benefit to introducing “new media” is that it will give students invaluable skills and experience with up-and-coming technologies that they will be able to utilize as they enter the workforce.

However, I think there are several risks that come with introducing new media into the classroom. I’ll admit that when I first heard that we were going to be using blogs and web design in this class, I almost switched. I have never been computer-savvy (my laptop and I often get in heated arguments, and I usually lose), and I was afraid I was not going to be prepared. Most people still think of English class as a course focused on writing or typing papers and I think it is going to take a while to change this misconception.

Also, especially at the college-level, students have a mosaic of different experience levels with using computers, videos, the internet, and other forms of “new media. By only focusing on these new forms, students that are not very comfortable with technology might be alienated. Moreover, as we discussed last week, students that can not attend schools that can afford newer technology are going to be left behind in this movement.

I really see this use of “new media” as interesting and exciting change from what I always thought of “academic writing” in the English class. However, I definitely think that getting comfortable with it is going to take time.