Hello everybody! :) I'm still a bit puzzled as to how the blog entry works, but I'm going to be posting on the Youth culture and digital media: New literacies for new times. Research in the Teaching of English as well. More than having a specific question, I want to pose my thoughts on whether or not this new media centered education will work or not, depending on its pros and cons. Well first of all, it's true that much of the youth today is very much centered around the media. Much of what we buy, much of what we wear and eat is derived of the media. From simple things such as TV reality shows and magazine articles to things such as the news or radio talk shows, we take those things in and allow ourselves to become immersed in and influenced by it. Then, (as the article is saying) since our daily social lives are so influenced by the media, it just makes sense that media should be able to have a positive influence on our educational lives as well. I think that this argument can have its obvious pros and cons. I guess as a youth and student myself, I should be able to see the pros first. I myself am not that creative of a person, but I can see how making films and songs and plays to depict what you're learning can help. Even in grade school, the happiest days are when the teacher rolls in the little TVs and plays a film. If that can be a regular part of education, I feel that students might even enjoy learning a bit more. Also, students tend to only focus on using the left side of their brain when working in school. The creative aspect of this method will force a student to also utilize his/her right brain. However, there are the obvious downsides of this education as well. Not only will it involve much doubt (what will work? what will not?) it will take an enormous increase in the already lacking funding. I guess it's more logistics. I myself don't mind learning with a textbook and notebook in front of me, but this sort of interactive learning can increase literacy in more ways than just being able to read a book. If this sort of youth culture&media program can be implemented in a timely & reasonably priced manner, I think it's a new method that we really should be thinking of. If you've already had the baby, YAYYAYAYYA! :) Congratulations!!!! See you all tomorrow :) Christine.