Michael Manderino, from Northern Illinois University, and I will be coeditors for a new column in the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (JAAL), “Digital Literacies for Disciplinary Learning.” Mike studies disciplinary literacies in digital contexts in history and English language arts and the use of multimodal texts for disciplinary learning. My work explores online reading and research, digital literacy and problem solving in libraries, and the use of apps to support learning in science.
The introductory column will be published in July 2016. We approach this opportunity with great excitement because this collaboration unites Mike’s and my individual interests and complementary perspectives to forge new ground. The column will illuminate important questions and identify trends emerging in the field. As we explore topics with invited coauthors, we bring the mindset of colearners: making connections along with our readers and pooling our collective experiences to think about innovations in instructional practice.
Column content will use examples demonstrating new possibilities for innovative digital and disciplinary instructional designs. Although new technologies and apps will be highlighted, literacy and learning practices that accompany the use of these tools will be the focus. This approach to digital and disciplinary learning demonstrates it is not the orchestration of technological tools that should be emphasized in quality instruction. The social and intellectual practices that accompany the use of those tools is the true transformative takeaway.
Given our preference for interactivity, we will offer a number of additional resources linked from the online edition of JAAL. We will include digital content which may take the form of interviews with invited column authors who will draw out and highlight key ideas from their pieces. Supplements may also include expanded examples in the form of digital pictures or video of the learning environment, digital student work, and links to related research. These features will bring content to life and give readers with a vision of possibilities.
We have invited esteemed colleagues who work in schools and community settings to share their insights. These articles will include illustrative examples and implications for research and practice. These invited authors represent a range of disciplines and contexts and work with adolescent and adult learners at different points in their learning trajectory. Mike and I will reflect, along with the authors, on the territory covered across the column series, and on our emerging understandings the synergies and intersections of digital and disciplinary literacies. These insights offer us a rich opportunity to refine, reshape and reflect on additional considerations that came up when thinking about Digital Literacies for Disciplinary Learning. Mike and I are excited about this journey and anticipate a rich set of learning interactions with JAAL readers and the TILE SIG community.
Jill Castek is a research assistant professor with the Literacy, Language, and Technology Research group at Portland State University.