"What does Selfe Want us to pay attention to?"

Work Cited: Selfe, Cynthia A. "Technology and Literacy in the Twenty-First Century: The importance of paying attention." Images Pr, 1998.

"Paying attention" is a call to action that refers to the instructor NOT the student. As instructors, and thus leaders of education, it is our job to note and acknowledge the literacy changes occurring in our society (151). Without having a goal in mind to "pay attention" to the new literacies (especially the new techno-literacy) emerging, we risk leaving our students inadequately able to succeed in an ever-changing world. By keeping this goal in mind, as instructors, we will help students to have the capabilities to be successful. This means that there needs to be an active call from educators and citizens alike to redefine the current school curriculum and standards, in order to promote critical thinking among students. Selfe states that our obligations as instructors are to continually “read and analyze the text and lives of our students” (160), and I only wonder how educators will be able to reach this goal of creating techno-literate students while still adhering to the out-dated and ineffectual state/government. standards. Perhaps before we set the stage for creating techno-literate students we should do away with the very standards that inhibit learning and experience. These very standards fail students and educators, not only because they are ill-created, but because preparation for them fill up the academic calendar leaving little to no room for educators to prepare students on what is really important to their academic success and what could be extremely beneficial to them as on going members of the academic community.