Social, Innovative and Deep: Exploring Digital Literacies in a Year 9 English Classroom

ABSTRACT

How are teachers who identify as “digital literacy trailblazers’ exploring and experimenting with digital tools in their English classrooms? Based on a study of English teaching with digital tools, this paper draws on the case of one secondary school teacher and her year 9 class as they read Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank) and engage with three digital applications in their learning about historical context, literary language and narrative voice. The case is presented in order to discuss digital literacy practices in the context of English curriculum and pedagogy.

KEYWORDS:

• Digital literacy
• dynamic literacies
• Instagram
• Padlet
• Flipgrid
• Anne Frank

Acknowledgments

The project of which this case study is a part was undertaken by a team comprising Dr David Caldwell, Associate Professor Sue Nichols, Sarah Forrest and Therese Lovett, as well as the author. The work of the ‘digital literacy trailblazer’ (Simone – pseudonym) is also acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of South Australia under the EASS URIPA Mentoring and Seed Funding Grant.

Notes on contributors

Jill Colton

Jill Colton is a lecturer in Education Futures, University of South Australia. She specialises in literacy and English teacher education.