Impact of Google on Literacy Practices, Essay Example

Our daily lives are continuously affected by changes in technology ranging from school, the work place and leisure. Some advancement in technology are applaud and affectively applied for the benefit of the society while others are associated with controversies in addition to disagreements with regard to their use and the extent to which they benefit the society. A case at hand is the video games which, although are associated with heightened popularity, they have also been associated with negative behaviors involving physical violence as well as criminal activities. Additionally, some health issues including obesity, deprivation of sleep, poor performance in school and work place and addiction have been associated with video games when used habitually.

A variety of other technologies have transformed the real implication of literacy the 21^st century literacy have cherished the role played by technology in shaping the denotation of literacy. This has been attributed to the escalation in intensity along with complexity in the literate environments. Consequently, the requirements of the 21^st century are the possession of wide array of abilities together with competencies for every individual. In this scenario, literacy is a composite of multiple, dynamic, as well as malleable activities. These include online newspaper reading and other articles, taking part in discussions of virtual class, interaction in social networking websites.

This paper posits to critically evaluate the impact of goggle on literacy practices. It is important to note that, considerable changes are taking place in schools with majority of the children remaining in their academic institution for a long period therefore diminishing their chances for success. Additionally, illiteracy is a significant contributor to social distress. The contribution of goggle in filling the gap of literature through presentation of innovative tools for students in enhancing their potentials in making meanings out of texts has been applauded in many schools (Cathy, Lori & Rebecca, 2004).

The developments that have so far been achieved in technology are associated with fascinating challenges in as far as universal literacy is concerned. Introduction of new technology associated with the use of computers and the internet to access goggle is a beneficial avenue to texts in addition to vital writing tools that is available across the continent. The use of computer system with internet connections facilitates the use of goggle which has significant implications on literacy practices.

However, although the developments associated with the new technology involving the use of goggle in enhancement of literacy practices, access to the new technology is associated with high levels of inequality. This fact is attributed to the stratification in the society on the basis of generations with the ever increasing evolution in technology associated with communication and information. Goggle plays the role of improving the knowledge of exemplary teachers and their contribution in promotion of literacy achievements considering all grade levels and offers a beneficial guide in as far as professional development is concerned (Cathy & John, 2009). Additionally, goggle has been an important tool to teachers in evaluation of their strengths and consequent enhancement of their competencies.

A community living in a close environment has stratified ages in as far as access to cyberspace is concerned because some families are wealthier than others. As a consequence, equitable distribution of resources of information technology can never be achieved. The use of computers in schools can best be used to belabor this point home, in which case, some schools are wealthier than others. This allows the wealthier schools to gain easy access to information technology at the expense of poor schools. Additionally, the students of wealthier schools have higher opportunities for access to computers to meet their open-ended activities of learning including global communication, writing, science simulations as well as art. Consequently, they are able to advance in their literacy practices as compared to the less fortunate students in poorer schools. Students in poorer schools may have limited access to the computers to meet basic skills thus hindering any advancement in literacy practices. The use of goggle in enhancement of literacy practices is an important step in the preparation of young people to join the workplace where literacy plays a pivotal role.

Goggle has made significant contribution to information and communications technology, ICT, in advancement of traditional literacy practices through an examination of literacy in the backdrop of a wide array of technology (Nick, 2001). The students who have access to computers and the internet at their homes are able to successfully advance their literacy practice which translates to classroom experts. By so doing, they are at an advantage and become centre of attention and opportunities. On the other hand, the disadvantaged students who can hardly access the computers are placed in remedial programs and in most cases, their literacy practices are below average forcing them to remain behind and in some cases, they pull out.  Gender inequalities also play a significant role in as far as this technology is concerned. Male students are more likely to use computers as compared to female students. Female students also tend to show minimal involvement in the use of new technologies as compared to their male students counterparts. This translates to the acquisition of literacy skills in which case, female students accumulate higher expertise in comparison to the female students.

Goggle is one of the new forms of technology which has made significant contribution to the literacy practices within and outside the classroom environment. The application of goggle has influenced the skills of reading, interaction, writing as well as thinking among the students who have constant access to the computers and the internet. Goggle is also an important tool for teachers to stay connected with their students, parents and the entire school fraternity. It is possible to give regular updates to the parents concerning the progress of their children in addition to upcoming events. Teachers can also harness goggle in publishing the work of their students, school newsletters, posting results of students’ projects and course documents, assigning group projects to the students and track the records of their students more efficiently. On the other hand, students can effectively communicate their ideas with their fellow students with the use of goggle, they can also share note in addition to photos and enhance their skills in writing

The most notable advantage associated with the use of goggle is access to virtually all type of information that is needed. With accurate knowledge about its use, a student can look for any information and harness it to suit their needs. Teachers can also make use of this technology to prepare for their lessons without involving the much tedious written texts. The innovation has therefore received a warm welcome and enthusiastic acceptance among many sectors of the society. However, the introduction of this technology is also associated with some problems. Most students cannot avoid visiting other social networking sites where much of the activities have no direct relationship with the enhancement of their literacy skills. Additional research is needed in altering this technology in a manner that it will be adapted to facilitate literacy practices and learning while avoiding the problems associated with it. This can possibly be achieved through the use of the option of SSL specifically suited for students. The application of SSL facilitate some programs that restrict some contents from the access of school networks. With the application of SSL some content filters along with proxies in the network are hindered from modifying the search contents from the response of goggle. However, although the use of SSL is associated with significant benefits of security and privacy, all attacks can hardly be blocked using this technique. The benefits associated with the application of SSL are a factor of the list of trusted certificates as provided by the browser, issue of the certificates and organizations’ security. Additionally the manner of handling the certificate warnings of the browser also contributes to additional benefits of the use of SSL. Additionally, it is possible to encrypt the connection of the computer to goggle but with a malware infection, third parties gain direct access to the typed queries. Consequently, prevention and removal of malware is a skill that should be learned by all computer users.

Works cited

Nick Easingwood. ICT and Literacy: Information &Communications Technology, Media, Reading & Writing. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2001

The author addresses the contribution of information and communications technology, ICT, in advancement of traditional literacy practices through an examination of literacy in the backdrop of a wide array of technology.

Cathy Collins Block & John N. Mangieri. Exemplary Literacy Teachers: What Schools Can Do to Promote Success for All Students. Guilford Press, 2009.

The authors posit the knowledge of exemplary teachers and their contribution in promotion of literacy achievements considering all grade levels and offer a beneficial guide in as far as professional development is concerned. Google has been an important tool to teachers in evaluation of their strengths and consequent enhancement of their competencies.

Cathy Collins Block, Lori Rodgers, & Rebecca Johnson. Comprehension Process Instruction: Creating Reading Success in Grades K-3. Guilford Press, 2004.

The authors attempt to fill the existing gap of literature through presentation of innovative tools applicable to K-3 students in enhancing their potentials in making meanings out of texts.