Reading for the Future

In my Eng251 class, I have been reading about the history of literature as a study in school and why, what, and how we read literature.  I was thinking about this class and how the study of literature is in a period of change even now as we are diving head on into the digital age.  We are in another period of transition.  Teachers are having to incorporate, as we are doing, technology in the world of studying books.  I have been wondering how the technological world will influence in the future what we read, what kinds of books will be taught in the classroom, and how our advancing world will influence what and how people write.  Any thoughts?

Writing About Literature--Informal Researching and Visual Arts

So the articles I read were Chapters 4 and 15 "Stepping Over Joyce's Paralysis" by Ashley Nelson and "Coon Dogs... " by Amy Whitaker.
Ashley Nelson talked about how informal sources of research, such as blogs, are sometimes just as useful and important as formal, academic sources.  With our technologically advancing world, ideas are more and more readily available.  She claimed that just because Joe doesn't have a doctorate degree in literary studies, his ideas about the interpretation of a work can be just as valuable to a researcher and adds value to the discussion on that topic.  She made a valid point.  If the ideas are out there, why should we not utilize them?  I wonder how much these informal sources will be used as valid sources in modern research as the ideas of any given person become more and more publicized.
Amy Whitaker talked about the importance of visual art in the interpretation of literary works.  Literature has always been about the words for me.  It is difficult to find a picture book on a novel like Tolstoy's War and Peace or Hugo's Les Miserables, but she argued the point that when studying these works, students and teachers should use available visual arts because it adds a completely new dynamic and understanding to the work to see an artists depiction of the work of literature.  I think it's a great idea, if such sources are available, but I do not think we should ever undervalue the beauty and importance of the words themselves.  I do not think we should become dependent on seeing the works visually to loose the ability to see them imaginatively.  Our personal visual interpretation of a work is as important as our emotional, moral, and philosophical interpretations.

Emma by Jane Austen

Ok, what do you think about doing my literary work on Emma discussing social conventions?  My idea is to say how we use different dialogue when we speak with different groups of people, how we disclose or conceal certain information in front of certain people depending on our relationship with them, whether intimately or indifferently connected.

BYU-I Learning Model

Ok, so in my Eng295 class, we are looking into the methods of the BYU-I learning model.  The first in the three step process is to prepare: spiritually, individually, and as a group.  I have always been an advocate of gospel-inspired learning.  I have always found that consistent and daily scripture reading and praying to my Heavenly Father have given me added strength and understanding even when it comes to secular subjects.  My Lord and Savior is willing to bless me in things both spiritual and temporal, and as the Learning Model says, "faith in the Lord Jesus Christ [is] a principle of power", so why not seek his aid, guidance, and power in my formal education?
Sharing my knowledge and teaching others is also important because I know my knowledge and understanding of a subject can help others and better focus their learning.  I have had the opportunity to tutor different individuals who were struggling.  That is one of the most rewarding feelings to be directly involved in another student's learning and to directly help them understand new material, etc.  By doing so, I not only helped their understanding, but greatly increased my own understanding and insight into the subject.  On several occasions, I have also been the one helped.  I took a math class in high school that I really struggled in, but there was always someone ready and willing to help me and because of their help I was able to battle with those numbers, conquer the concepts, and come out with a good grade in the class.
I am also an advocate of comprehensive learning.  I like to go through all my notes at the end of a unit and connect the old material with the new.  I love bringing what I learn out of the classroom and into my everyday life.  I love talking to my family and friends about what I have learned, engage in intellectual discussions, and go to other sources to gain more insight into a certain subject.  Learning Russian for example, has been a challenge, but the benefits came when I could talk to my uncle on a whim in Russian and listen to Russian music and actually understand what they were saying.
All of these principles are important and useful to individual learning and benefit my life in and out of the classroom.