Do you think that technology can help students enhance their literacy skills?
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read and write.
According to Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary online (www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary):
literacy is "the quality or state of being literate."
Literate, according to this same source, derives from Middle English and Latin terms meaning "marked with letters" and "letters, literature." Two definitions are provided:
1) "able to read and write," and
2) "versed in literature or creative writing...having knowledge or competenceliterate> literate>."
In my classroom, I have found many ways that technology has helped my students with literacy. Digital Storytelling is a great way to get students involved and enthused about literacy and to help students with their writing. Examples of digital stories
After attending a writing workshop last week, I realized the importance of starting the writing process in the primary grades. I made a Glogster page to demonstrate to my students the way that they can combine writing, storytelling, and technology together to create a fun and unique digital story. This digital storytelling Glogster is intended for second grade but can be used in various grades throughout. I included links to a brainstorming storyboard and grading rubric, based on the FCAT Writes rubric which focuses on organization, focus, support, and conventions. Additionally, I added an example of a digital story, which I created over the summer with my niece who is in second grade.
I am hoping that this activity will help my students understand what a digital story is, as well as enthuse and enhance their writing skills. The students will create a storyboard then transfer their writing to a digital story, created with their very own sound choice, voice, and text. Using a program such as: Windows Live Movie Maker will make the creation of the digital story fun and user-friendly. Students can then publish their creations on internet sites and connect globally.
Blogging is another excellent way of having students participate in literacy promoting skills. Here are some various ways to use blogging in the classroom. Examples I am looking forward to introducing blogging into my classroom as daily reflective journaling.
My thoughts...
"If we are interested in changing education, we need more than ever to be interested in teacher education, teacher knowledge, and the ways in which teachers come to learn, adapt, and make new approaches a reality.” (p.2). http://www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/documents/lit_reviews/Teachers_Review.pdf
Teacher learning should encompass experience, reflection, and construction. This is a reality because the make-up of substantial, as well as evident learning relies on these three key elements. Through the experience, the teacher can reflect and construct a new approach, thus enhancing teaching and learning. By incorporating digital technologies into learning, teacher learners can extend and enhance abilities and familiarity with the tools, demonstrate to students, become more apt with technologies, therefore increasing the likelihood of using such technologies with students in the classroom.
What do you think???
Please take a moment to take my survey to see the likelihood of the use of technology within your classrooms. (This will help me in designing a PD) Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Thanks for reading and please share your thoughts,
Ms. Lopez
mlouf@ufl.edu
