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Week 10 Reflection

 This week, I focused pretty heavily on Activism & Citizenship. One thing is abundantly clear to me: teaching digital literacy skills and incorporating Web2.0 tools into lessons is a sure-fire way to get learners engaged and possibly more involved in digital activism. 

I found the #Eduresistance article to be particularly intriguing. The article made some great points about social media's ability to amplify marginalized voices, disseminate information at a rapid pace, and provide the energy to get people active within their communities. I have experienced this in my own life by following communities of action in Tallahassee, such as Tallahassee Action Community and Food Not Bombs. Seeing the events these organizations put on via social media gives me the opportunity to participate in-person as well as online by sharing links for community aid and protests happening around the city. 

I also appreciated the limits that the article pointed out. There is a certain amount of surveillance that comes with social media that can be dangerous in times of political unrest. I think many teachers in the secondary world, particularly those in Florida, are a bit scared to use words like "activism" with their students as the political climate in Florida politics and education is quite sticky right now. We're facing book bans and disgruntled parents at every turn while losing more funding constantly. Stirring the pot feels like something that can only make things worse, and using social media can be a touchy subject on its own. There is also the matter of the digital divide: many students do not have access to the same technologies and programs. 

Overall, digital literacy is a skill that every student needs to develop for a multitude of reasons. We live in a digital world, and there are few spaces where it will not be relevant to an individual's daily life. I also think it is important to empower secondary students to be activists: everyone should be able to participate in the political climate and stand for what they believe in. Although it can be tricky to navigate in today's world, I think it is worth doing and essential to kiddos growing into their own. 

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