Jenkins: Multiliteracy and Multitasking

Although Jennifer Powers makes a valid point about the need to re-examine our understanding of literacy in order to come to a more multifaceted and inclusive definition of it, ultimately, her attack of print literacy is exclusive by nature and, therefore, contradictory. In this regard, I believe that Henry Jenkins' view on 21st century literacy is more sound, or at least well-balanced.

In spite of being a fully-embracing-advocate of multiliteracy, Jenkins, unlike Powers, does not reject nor deny the importance of print or "textual" literacy. In fact, when it comes to traditional literacy skills related to the interpretation and production of 'print' text, he still ranks such skills as having a central role in the 21st century which we must expand upon rather than totally replace.

Another interesting point that Jenkins makes is the need for teachers to recognize and facilitate current patterns of multitasking, particularly with regards to homework. Unlike traditional views on multitasking which have tended to see it as a negative interference, Jenkins views multitasking as an important new skill which he describes as "the ability to scan one's environment and shift focus as needed to salient details," and which he believes has implications for modern teachers. As he put it, "multitasking enters pedagogical practice when teachers recognize the desires of contemporary students to... maintain what some have called 'continuous partial attention', interacting with homework materials while engaged in other activities."

Two great examples which are quickly catching on of how teachers are making greater efforts to accommodate for contemporary patterns of afterschool multitasking are the use of podcasts and internet games. Some teachers have the luxury and the technological savviness to set up systems where classroom materials and lectures are automatically sent to students Ipods. As he indicates "rather than needing to set aside dedicated study time to practice a foreign language, this allows students to access their homework while walking from classes... or while engaging in other activities." Likewise "homework assignments in the form of online games," such as those from cybernation.net, "could be designed... to facilitate patterns of multitasking."  https://owl.uwo.ca/webct/urw/lc5116011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct