Technology and Literacy - a guest blog by Stephanie Campbell

Welcome to Hump Day!

I’ve got a special guest today, author Stephanie Campbell. She is the author of Poachers, which came out on September 30.  She lives in Utah with an abnormal amount of pets and enjoys spending her free time, if she has any, day dreaming. She is still convinced she is a fairy, though doctors have tried to convince her otherwise. She dreams of being on the Today Show and Good Morning America. Beyond Poachers, she also has the following titles coming soon: P.S. I Killed My Mother, Tasting Silver, and Dragon Night.




Technology and Literacy By Stephanie Campbell

This generation is definitely different than any of the past. It has long since been the days of typewriters, handwritten letters, and onion skin manuscripts. Many believe that the technological advancements are leading to a decline in literacy as more gaming devices, cell phones, and music players are being introduced that distract from reading. In the old days, long before the internet, books were a very common form of entertainment. Now, blowing up a moaning zombie is but one click away.

But is literacy really declining because of technology? There are many things that people who believe that technology is the downfall of literacy have overlooked. Many of the things that we do during this technological age is writing based. People can be “writers” without being “authors.”

What is a text but dialogue? What is an email but a description of an event? These are forms of writing. Many people aren’t picking up a book as they used to, but they are using their cell phones. Some of the romanticism may be gone. “Thou art as fair as a flower.” has turned into “Yo girl, you are one sexy thing.” but writing is still writing.

There are many ways that people, especially teens, are expressing themselves in a literary manner without realizing it:
Texting
Emails
Diaries
Comments
Note Throwing (Yes, even in classroom settings.)

Basically, writing and reading is a part of everything that we do, whether we realize it or not. Like everything in life, the manner in which we express ourselves via words is changing, but that does not mean that it is lost.


Stephanie, thank you for swinging into my blog today. Folks, here’s the blurb for Poachers to whet your appetite…

Ronnie Toll has never played with other kids. He's never slept soundly throughout the night, turned a corner without checking first, or laughed for the sake of laughing. All Ronnie knows is a world of shadows and monsters. His mother and father, Marion and Leon, are the only ones by his side.

But all that is about to change when his mother is murdered by the monsters that only he can see. With his only safe haven crumbling around him, Ronnie becomes a poacher for the other side to help protect human civilization as he knows it. The problem is, he’s taking on more than he bargained for when he tangles with creatures that are larger than life—and himself.

 
 
 
 
Friday, I've got author Christine Butler on tap, don't forget to swing in and say hi!
Until then,
Ciao.
JET