New Literacies In Action: Teaching And Learning In Multiple Media

What do classroom teachers do on a daily basis to incorporate the study and production of texts in multiple media? What are some of their assignments? How do teachers assign grades in a classroom where the final project may be a sculpture, a film, or a website? This book answers these and many other questions by examining the work of pioneers: teachers who have transformed their classrooms in an effort to broaden the literacy of their students. Describing some of the most innovative examples of teaching and learning, this volume offers practical guidance, including actual lessons, assignments, and assessments that have been used successfully in pioneering classrooms.

Excellent overview of new literacies and compelling case studies. The description of the method for the case studies and the prose of the case studies is especially good. The concept of new literacies is a fuzzy one, but Kist does an excellent of laying out his criteria for selection of his cases. Many teachers have used it as a starting point for discussions with teachers and teacher educators. Though there are points that one could disagree with, his candor and transparency (the good kind) make this an engaging read. The cases embody what he considers 'new literacies in action' from a variety of schools and classrooms (jr high to hs). Reading, reflecting, agreeing, and disagreeing with them is an extremely useful way to develop your own framework for looking at new literacies.