Electronic Literacy Essay

OUTLINE


I. Introduction

a. What it is
b. Why it is important
c. How it helps

II. Starting Out

a. Video Games
b. My first PC (typing, specs, etc.)
c. Internet (email, forums, etc.)

III. Present Time

a. Graphic Design
b. PC upgrade
c. Video Games
d. Family

IV. Into The Future

a. Use in field of work
b. Expectations
c. Non ELT related business

V. Conclusion

a. Restatement (importance)
b. Personal opinion
c. Closing comment

Electronic Literacy Essay

Nowadays a literate individual has a massive advantage over an illiterate person. Literacy, however, does not seem to be enough anymore. With the recent major advances in the technological field, individuals are now required to be able to handle the sometimes complex intricacy of today’s innovative modern devices. It is therefore important to be fully competent at managing different types of electronics varying form TVs, cameras, video games, and computers, to also understanding how they work for their use with internet, and sometimes even code in different computer languages. Literacy has long gone over the limits of reading and writing. Those who are electronically literate hold the key to success in our current world. Following is but one of the many tales on the influence that was brought upon by electronic literacy.

I was born at a time of technological advancement, one in which plenty of electronic devices were bountiful, common, and usual in my life. My first real and meaningful contact with electronic devices was with video game consoles. Mine was a generation in which children did not play outside much anymore, but rather stayed in to socialize with other kids by having fun in front of a TV set, playing Super Mario, Sonic, and Street Fighter, among others. Some would look on the disadvantages of this, but there is a worthy side to everything, it helped me develop other skills that I would not have obtained otherwise. My interest in video games grew, in the same way it did for my friends as well, and soon after my 12^th birthday I acquired my very first personal computer. After a couple of semesters in Junior High School, I became a pro at typing, learning computer specs, and even building my own computer. The internet became massive just a few years earlier too, and my initiation was delayed by the fact that it was quite expensive to get a connection, but I had the opportunity to become acquainted with it at school. Immediately an entire world opened up for me and, though a bit rustic at the time, email, forums, and chat channels allowed me to obtain a plethora of information about nearly anything. The best was yet to come, as it grew over time, and it enabled me to gain considerable knowledge about the many things I was interested in.

One of those items was the many places sharing such wisdom. I became fixated on building my own space where I could share my experience, but in order to do that it was crucial to know how to design a website, and after a period of time I succeeded. I no longer have a website of my own, but I work as a Graphic Designer for national and international companies, and technology has had an enormous influence on improving this skill. Furthermore, I am now able to upgrade my computer, which is important for several reasons. One of these reasons is to keep it up to date for the latest games. Though I now lack the time to play video games all day long, I still manage to set a couple of hours apart each week to indulge in this recreational practice of mine, which is enough for now. The second and most important reason is the communication I maintain with my parents. My immediate family lives in the US, and technology has enabled me to keep in touch with them up to this day, which is something I would never be able to afford otherwise. We talk to each other each week through a messenger application. The fact that I am able to talk to them from so far away has been a significant stronghold in my life. It has helped me tolerate the immense distance setting us apart. Technology has also helped me extensively in both, my native language, and my second language.  Since I was a small boy when I moved to the US, English was not a learned language, it was an acquired one. It eventually overshadowed Spanish to the extent that had forgotten it. Computer language programs enabled me to acquire a second language, and they have also helped in the task of regaining my native language. I still stall a bit when speaking Spanish, but the improvement is clearly seen, as no one seems to notice this shortcoming too much. I suspect that technology will not stop me here.

We are obviously well into the electronic revolution. Technology has an infinite number of tools that will be of immeasurable use in my field of work. As an English teacher I expect to use many platforms, such as moodle, to fulfill many learning objectives. I expect that my students will not be the only ones learning and keeping up to date. I have always made it an effort to expand and develop my knowledge, to progressively increase it, and I have no plans on interrupting this trend any time soon.  I imagine that new devices and mechanical equipment that we cannot even begin to envision will be invented in the future. Gadgets that will amaze us and assist us in ways we thought were impossible. The future looks very promising, and I for one cannot wait to see it, but I know that I will certainly enjoy the way there. My vision for now though, is to keep using technology in all my future endeavors; to teach English, and to grow on future projects, such as owning my own business.  It might be quite an ambition, but I have full trust on my convictions, and I know I can get there.

Technology has had a big impact on my life. It is worth mentioning, however, that it serves no purpose by itself. It is only when we apply ourselves to become familiar with all its domains that we can truly take full advantage of it. We must continually strive to be up to date with all its standards. Electronic literacy is our pathway into the future, and as such, obtaining the necessary knowledge to master it must be a priority. I always knew it to be wise to embrace it, and to let it be in my life regardless of the consequence, and I have yet to regret it. Although electronic literacy’s true potential can be easily seen to lean towards the future, I do not believe that something with such importance should wait when I can have it now, and there is no better time than the present. I take my life very serious. I am overprotective of it because I cherish it as everyone should too, hence I do not hesitate to do what is best for myself, and that makes all the difference.