The following presentation documents my journey toward finding a possible solution for my wicked problem: Should literacy activities be fully virtual in the future? By definition, a wicked problem is one that is not easily solved due to countless factors and stipulations that must be taken into consideration, and often the “solution” is just the best, worst-case-scenario that is offered.
This presentation also highlights the data from a survey I created and disseminated to 45 individuals (26 responded) as well as research on the use of paper versus digital technologies for literacy acquisition.
My findings resulted in a mixture of unknowns that naturally call for more research to be conducted. Such research has the potential to inform educational policy as well as the standards that are addressed in literacy curriculums. More research is needed in the following areas:
- The age at which digital literacy skills should be introduced
- The appropriate blend of paper and digital skills as students advance in their academics
The best, worst-case-scenario I have found is for teachers to personalize the curriculum for all of their students. This is something that many teachers naturally do but is, in and of itself, a wicked problem primarily due to issues of funding and student-teacher ratios.
The increased digitization of literacy-education is alarming, and educators as well as policy-makers need to be informed of the research supporting proper literacy acquisition. I hope to someday understand this issue even more clearly and continue using best-practices and research in my educational decisions.
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