Researching Dylan

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The title of our humble website  obviously has a focus on a variety of issues,  or if you wanted to be pedantic perhaps just two – literacy and research.  Both seem very difficult concepts to pass on to our latest generation of media buzzed youngsters, and it’s not surprising really – books, music and plays versus multimedia madness and YouTube comedy clips.  I know which one I would have chosen when I was young if the choice was available.

But let’s backtrack a little, educators today are not limited to stepping through Pride and Prejudice. Well of course, we have to follow the curriculum so maybe that’s not completely true – but we do have some leeway? Well I think I have. How much more fun would it be to analyse this with a group of teenagers.

Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They’re drinkin’, thinkin’ that they got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you’d better lift your diamond ring, you’d better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can’t refuse
When you ain’t got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You’re invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.

It’s hip and cool and to some extent just as difficult to decipher as the Canterbury Tales or Jane Austen, but of course it isn’t.  Although its nearly 50 years old, the song means a lot to so many people, but if you search for definitions and meanings – it’s not easy to find.   The words ooze meaning, in a contemporary sense they mean so much more to today’s youth. Why not base our curriculum on texts like this – in case you haven’t guessed it’s from “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan recently voted by Rolling Stone as the ‘Best Song of All Time” – sorry Wolfgang but I think they may be right.

And if that’s little hard to decipher, think of how many anti-war and peace songs there are.  Another song from the list is ‘Imagine’ it’s certainly much easier to understand but just as profound and more accessible than the Canterbury Tales.

Shouts to : my friend on this article.

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Children

Is the End in Sight for Printed Media

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A recent study by  the National Literacy Trust has just completed a rather interesting study.  It surveyed over 35,000 children aged from 8 to 16 with regards a variety of subjects.  One of the most startling results although perhaps not altogether surprising is the fact that young people would much prefer to read something on a screen than written down.

Of course people and especially the young have been brought up in a screen based culture.  Mobile phones, laptops and tablets are all over our home and it is inevitably one of these that our children will reach for when looking for information.  How many of us I wonder have rows of encyclopedias or reference books which hardly get a look in any more – want to know something you’ll probably look on the internet.

The figures came in at 52% of those surveyed would rather read something on a screen than written down.  32% still preferred normal print and the rest didn’t express a preference. Of these young people, almost 39% will read something on a screen every day compared to 28% with normal print.

In  the UK now 97% have access to computer and the internet at home, in fact 77% of children sad that they had their own computer.  When questioned about other related areas like newspapers and current news affairs the pattern was repeated with most seeking  their information from a screen.

In fact  the internet is becoming part of most aspects of our childrens lives.  From research, news and socialising – much of it is done virtually using the internet.   Even traditional screen based entertainment is being affected with people often watch videos and even TV online using a computer rather than a traditional TV.  Using various technologies to watch favorite programs via laptops and iPads like this site demonstrates - http://www.uktv-online.com/online-british-tv-abroad/, which  they can even use abroad on holiday.

National Literacy Trust director Jonathan Douglas said: “Our research confirms that technology is playing a central role in young people’s literacy development and reading choice.

“While we welcome the positive impact which technology has on bringing further reading opportunities to young people, it’s crucial that reading in print is not cast aside.”

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Children