1. HOW CAN NEW LITERACIES
BE INTEGRATED INTO
HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH?
Gerber H. & Price G. (2011). Twenty-First-Century Adolescents,
Writing, and New Media: Meeting the Challenge with Game
Controllers and Laptops. English Journal, 101(2), 68-73.
Over 90% of students participate in some form of electronic media,
social network, and gaming
Blogs, Facebook, You Tube can enhance learning
Use of social networks, blogs, and gaming can help inspire students
writing and allow them to write for a wide range of audiences and
purposes
Allows meaningful experiences and positive real world connections
built upon their knowledge of gaming , social networks, and media
A. Jaconski

2. Many of today’s video games have “walk-through” manuals which
reference background information such as characters, settings,
plot, etc.
 Students can create own “walk-through” for their favorite games
which would be posted online
 Research setting, characters, countries, cultures, etc.
 Write in depth descriptions of characters, scenes, and strategies to
win the game
 Other students and peers can respond to their writing
Suggested Games:
 Uncharted Series
 Lego Series
 Prince of Persia
 Rise of Nations
 Civilization
 NCAA Football A. Jaconski
 Tiger Woods Golf

3. Web logs or blogs offer opportunities for discussions,
debates, and dialogue as well as respond to others.
 Video games allow opportunities for students to discuss
controversial issues, morals, and ethics
 Consider a Character’s point of view
 Create character profiles which allow social networking
 Research issues, societies, politics, economic issues
 Write and respond to others on a variety of subjects
Suggested Games:
 Bioshock Series
 Call of Duty
 Halo
 Resistance Fall of Man A. Jaconski

4. You Tube, machinima video entertainment networks for
gamers, and video allow students to express their creativity
 Students can create videos based on scenes, storylines ,
gameplay, magazines, and/or books related to games
 Write novels, poetry, music, short stories, plays, and other
creative pieces
 Extend stories, create new characters, new story lines, and
settings
 Use visual rhetoric, visual enhancements, screen captures,
and/or video recorders to connect writing
 Create overlays using video editing products
Suggested Games:
World of Warcraft
Conquer Online
Call of Duty Series
A. Jaconski