A few questions were posed in Week 4’s symposium (which is the first symposium I have been to after working the last 2 Tuesdays ahgaghjh).
The first topic related to the validity of information found on the internet and how we can judge it. Some tips were given e.g. the number of sites with the same info, expert opinion, cited studies, detailed and well thought out writing etc. Another tip was to google whether or not something is a hoax before you believe it without question.
When the Kony 2012 example was given I found it funny how I had completely forgotten about it. It was such a huge deal, unlike anything I had experienced before on social media. Everyone was sharing the video, people were buying posters to ‘cover the night’ and my friend Nicolette even alleges she woke up one night and saw a ghost that looked like the son in the video. Everyone (including myself) believed it wholeheartedly. Countless people on my Facebook feed were planning to ‘cover the night’. That was until they found out it was the same night as Year 12 formal aka waaaaay more important.
Another topic discussed was print literacies and network literacies and just different literacies in general. There was one example to do with cultural literacies and ordering drinks overseas which resonated with me. Last year in Switzerland I ordered a vodka lemonade, only to be given a vodka water (which was horrible btw).
Another literacy I had never thought of has to do with print literacy, and that is being able to read silently in your head. I remember when my sister was really little and she just couldn’t understand how I was reading in the car next to her without saying the words aloud. She was trying so hard to do the same but was still whispering quietly.
AND finally, one last literacy that caught my interest was being able to ‘understand direct address’ within a novel. This reminded me of my favourite childhood book called ‘The Monster at the end of this Book‘ in which Grover talks directly to the reader pleading and cautioning them not to turn each page.
See pic above (I recommend you read it, it really is a good time)
– Caitlin
