Digital Literacy In My Own Words (Virginia Heffernen)

My teachers from elementary, middle, and high school best prepared me for my tech requirements for college by teaching me basic steps of learning and developing a higher sense of learning over time. Back then technology was not advanced when I was growing up. So in that case learning was more hands on than relying on technology. In high school technology developed very gradually and improved making learning more useful for me and my peers. If I wrote my past teachers an email regarding their curriculum, I would say involve more technology because it’s more convenient.

In my career field I want to become a counseling psychologist. The technology I anticipate in using is basically the technology that we’re using now. In order to communicate with my clients I’ll need all lines of communication. Meaning phone calls and emails. Nothing new of a technology is really needed. Oakland University will most definitely have me prepared for using technology in my chosen career field. Everything I do in class involve in using technology, so it’s getting me use to it. In my opinion I write better in a relaxed setting using email. Emails are more personal unlike a blog: in which everyone can see. Emails are better and more convenient and personal beyond messages between you and whomever you’re writing to. If I were an English Teacher my attempt to better prepare the future generations is to make sure my students are using the technology we have today; in order for them to be prepared for super high tech jobs they have to know how to use the technology we have today. Communication is very important, so using emails and other ways to communicate among one another is very useful. I agree with the main thesis because as a person grows older they gradually become literate.

Over time technology has improved and makes becoming literate more easier. So teachers need to change their curriculum to better prepare students for the technology in the future.

Why Is Writing Important To Me

In my opinion, I think writing expresses how someone feels or indicates what something is. My major is Psychology and the field that I want to be in is counseling psychology. All lines of communication must be open in order to fulfill my client or patient of mines. My words need to be chosen wisely so I won't offend someone, my goal is to help them, not hurt them even more. It could also hurt me potentially in the long run. 

My writing and communication skills need to improve by knowing the different styles of writing there is, and grasping the concept. Writing is what helps us learn things and is very informational in our daily lives, how else would we know what's going on in our society if it wasn't written? That something to think about when it comes to term of writing and how it benefits us. 

My Literacy Timeline

Birth: None
1 year old: I started learning images of things
2 years old: Talking was very essential by then, I knew what things were and the meaning of some things.
3 years old: Books were always read to me by my family
4 years old: (Headstart) Vocabulary picked up gradually by interacting with other children my age
5 years old: By this time going to the library was one of my favorite things to do, just because I loved books with big colorful pictures and that excited me.

Grade School:

3rd Grade: My favorite teacher was Mrs. Gruell and I could say that's when my love for reading grew. She made us read as a class and helped us if we had trouble pronouncing words. My favorite books to read then was Junie B. Jones. Reading this made me love reading even more. (:

6th Grade: One time each student in our class had to pick out a book of our choice and we had to present it in front of the class. I was nervous at first but over time I got use to hearing my own voice.

9th Grade: In English class we always had a book we were reading as a class, and we discussed as a class. This made reading more interesting.

10th-12th Grade: I took it upon myself to read novels of my choice because I like reading and I'm very good at it, even hard words I can understand. Never have I read at a slow pace.

Downfall: I always judge books by its cover. I'm improving though.

Present: Very strong reader and I like to read books on topics and situations that interest me.

Summary & Response: Sherman Alexi (Literacy)

Sherman Alexie grew up in the middle class by reservation standards, where expectations existed. As a little indian boy he taught his self how to read at a early age and he learned very quickly. Literacy became very important in Sherman's life. He learned to read by looking at Superman comics and understood what he was reading.Sherman himself wanted to save others and break the cycle for indians, if he did it, they could too. He just refused to fail and pushed his self to become a better reader.


They way he became literate and the way I learned is kind of similar only in one way. I didn't grow up being stereotyped and having low expectations, unlike Sherman he had to one to push him, only his self. Growing up I had all the help in the world. One thing we have in common is the way we learned to become literate, he looked at pictures and put the words together. That's the beginning process me myself learned. The process we both used helped us become better readers. The reasons for him pushing his self was to benefit others while I'm mostly doing it for myself.