Review of Expanding Literacy

[Christabel Uzoamaka]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Expanding Literacy" by Brett Pierce.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The world has vastly evolved and remains dynamic, creating a serious question for teachers in this unprecedented generation: how do we prepare students for life and the workplace when a new set of skills have become necessary? The answer might be digital storytelling. In Expanding Literacy, Brett Pierce gives detailed insight into how teachers can incorporate storytelling into their teaching practices to help students become more engaged in the classroom and with the curriculum. Brett Pierce, the author, runs a non-profit, Meridian Stories, through which he advocates for digital literacy in classrooms. This approach has revolutionized learning for both students and teachers. And this book is a more professional and centered guideline on how to apply digital literacy using practical tasks.

Digital literacy means being able to use technology and disseminate and understand information on it. In addition to giving a satisfactory introduction to the topic of digital literacy and storytelling, Brett Pierce wasted no time getting into the details of how and why this system works. With five chapters, the author made such a convincing case for teachers applying digital storytelling that the idea sold itself.

The author introduced sections where real teachers with real experiences shared their definitions, experiences, and opinions of the various topics and sub-topics the book explained. I found the insight into the thoughts of real people to be a remarkable humane touch to what could have easily been droning lessons. He also went further to include well-organized activities that teachers can choose from and implement in their classrooms. The activities were always succinct and clear, as the author listed them in the most organized way.

It was easy to tell that the author thought about this book extensively and implemented his ideas with a flourish. For starters, the book had a full circle moment that was a pleasant surprise: the author began with a story on how his son using the internet to share a disparaging video inspired him on the path to creating a positive use of the internet in the classroom. He then concluded with the same touch point, explaining how far his son had come from his initial story. His various human touches and the direct writing style he used made for such an engaging read.

While the primary audience for this book is teachers who want to create a more engaging and positive atmosphere for learning in their classrooms, this book will also be useful to aspiring writers and digital creators. Of course, creativity is not a topic to be objectively taught, but useful pointers can place anyone interested on the right path to think up exciting ideas. For one, I learned about how sound can affect the audience’s interpretation of a presentation. I also gained more insight into characterization in storytelling. With no errors, impeccable presentation, and nothing to dislike, I can only rate Expanding Literacy 5 out of 5.

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Expanding Literacy
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[Hazel Mae Bagarinao]

Digital literacy is important for the the new normal world. If we will not go with the flow of technology, we will be left behind. I believe this book will enhance teachers' how to teach their students in the classroom. Thanks for you great review!

[Faruqinspired]

When explaining the many topics and subtopics in the book, the author incorporated sections where actual teachers with real experiences contributed their definitions, experiences, and opinions. What could have easily become tedious lessons received a great humanistic touch, in my opinion, through the understanding of the thoughts of actual people.

[Annas Felix]

Getting real teachers to share real experiences was a smart move by the author. It will help readers connect to the stories.