Sunday, October 3, 2010

Literacy and Technology: What the are experts saying?

 News Wire
       Reading Projects Incorporating the Web suggests a number of resources a teacher can use to incorporate technology into a reading curriculum.  The article describes several activities, which use reading, web-based research, writing, and presentation activities.  Some projects require students to work independently but many ask students to collaborate to complete the assignment.  One project, Import-Export with Keypals, lets the teacher assign their students a penpal/epal who students share pictures and letters with via the Internet. Students can make new friends with students across the state or out of the country.  Many of the assignments suggested can be used in several academic areas giving teachers an opportunity to plan cross-curriculum units of study.
Oliver, K. (2003). Reading Projects Incorporating Technology. News Wire. 2-3. Retrieved October 1, 2010, from http://www.seirtec.org/_downloads/publications/NWv6n1.pdf

           Teacher Wisdom Stories: Cautions and recommendations for using computer-related technologies for literacy instruction offers advice to classroom teachers about how to use computers effectively to deliver literacy instruction. The authors conducted a survey to determine teacher’s areas of interest and concern in regard to using technology to teach literacy. Once the data was collected and evaluated suggestions were made to help these teachers enhance literacy instruction.  Some teachers reported that they felt isolated and unsupported when they attempted to use computers during instruction.  The recommendation was to seek computer-related professional development opportunities. Teachers were also advised to ask other colleges in their district about technology support resources. The article also included advice about appropriate software, Internet safety, and computer lab/classroom management. A number of links were also provided to help teachers with resources for building effective lessons.  One of the links included was a link to the National Educational Technology Standards. These standards offer guidelines for writing technology lesson objectives for students in grades K-12.

Labbo, L. D., Leu, D. J., Kinzer, C., Teale, W. H., Cammack, D. , & Kara-Soteriu, J. , et al. (2003). Teacher wisdom stories: Cautions and recommendations for using computer-related technologies for literacy instruction. Technology in Literacy, 57(3), 300-304. Retrieved October 2, 2010, from http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/RT/11


          Critical Issue: Using Technology to Enhance Literacy Instruction provides valuable resources for educators seeking to build not only their reading curriculum but also ideas for writing and research are also included.  The contributors begin by defining several types of literacy: Information, Digital, New, Computer, Computer-Technology, Critical, and Media.  The information is divided into three specific areas: Research, Practice, and Professional Development which is followed with goals and suggestions for administrators, teachers, parents, media specialist and community partners to help student performance in the aforementioned areas. There are also many links to other websites offer support for implementing some of the strategies discussed.
Labbo, L. D., Leu, D. J., Kinzer, C., Teale, W. H., Cammack, D. , & Kara-Soteriu, J. , et al. (2003). Teacher wisdom stories: Cautions and recommendations for using computer-related technologies for literacy instruction. Technology in Literacy, 57(3), 300-304. Retrieved October 2, 2010, from http://www.readingonline.org/electronic/RT/11



Twenty-first Century Literacy and Technology in K-8 Classrooms 
     Twenty-first Century Literacy and Technology in K-8 Classrooms explored how new technology has impacted instruction.  The contributors explored what twenty-first skills teachers should be considering when deciding to incorporate technology into their instructional plans.  The article also explains that students are spending less time seeking information from parents and teaches and relying more on technology based resources.  Therefore, it is important that they are taught how to choose reliable resources and how to use them once they have accessed the information. An extensive list of resources is also provided with suggestions for how and to make most of these tools.    

Brown, J., Bryan, J., & Brown, T. (2005). Twenty-first Century Literacy and Technology in K-8 Classrooms. Innovative, 1(3), 1-5. Retrieved October 3, 2010, from http://http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=17