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The Microwave Generation and the Effects on American Literacy

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The Microwave Generation and the Effects on American Literacy
The Microwave Generation and the Effects on American Literacy In an age of technology, literacy in America has increased from technology advances, higher educational standards, and stringent work requirements. In today’s world people are immersed in technology. Has this made our nation illiterate? Or has literacy increased from generations? The meaning of literacy has changed throughout time and throughout different cultures. Literacy is not only the ability to read and write, but also to comprehend. The age of information has had a positive effect on American literacy and it appears this trend will continue for future generations.
Technology Effect Technology has changed literacy. In this technical world, one must improve their information literacy skill. Information literacy is the ability to recognize when information is needed and to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information (Burke, 2010). Technology has changed the way we learn, write, research, communicate, read, listen to music, and work. Home computers started to become more common to own in the 1980s, while the internet became commercialized in 1995 (Wikipedia, 2013). Since the commercialization of the internet, technology has boomed. Not so long ago, literacy was achieved by people attending school and learning from books. Now with a change of time, literacy is now being known as information literacy. Literacy in the information age can be defined as the ability to acquire and utilize knowledge, skills, and other resources to facilitate learning. The development of literacy in the information age is the result of reflecting on past learned literacy for solutions to current and future questions (Devers, 2007, pg.1).
Written Communication There are two forms of writing formal and informal. Formal writing is used academically or professionally. While informal writing is often used in email, social networking sites, and text messaging. “The tone, vocabulary, and syntax, all



References: Breslow, J. (2012). By the numbers: Dropping out of high school. Retrieved from: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/education/dropout-nation/by-the-numbers- dropping-out-of-high-school/ Crystal, D Education Statistics (1995). The condition of education 1995 (NCES No Indvik, L. (2012). Ebook Sales Surpass Hardcover for First Time in U.S., Retrieved from: http://mashable.com/2012/06/17/ebook-hardcover-sales/ Obama, B. (2013). The White House. Early childhood education. Retrieved from: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/education/early-childhood Randolph, K., Wilson-Younger, D Wikipedia. (2013). Home Computer. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_computer Word-Mart

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