Some of my fellow colleagues' blogs have raised the lack of internet and computer access as an obstacle to our future efforts as reading specialists. My message is YES WE CAN!
While the internet is awesome-- many of the resources are FREE and promote collaboration and 'beyond the classroom' learning, there are still many 'low tech' tools available that can engage our students in reading and writing activities. You don't need a computer lab or internet access to incorporate ICT in literacy instruction.
A multimedia projector and a laptop/ desktop computer ( whiteboard-optional)can be used to involve students in whole group and small group activities using WORD, EXCEL, POWERPOINT and PAINT to name a few.
1. Excel-- interactive crosswords that can build students vocabulary
2. Powerpoint--create audio books, interactive games and presentations which build students’ writing , reading, text comprehension skills and fluency
3. Computer and a microphone-- record students reading of text and re- play it for them to listen OR you can record your reading of text and play it for them to repeat- also for students re-telling of stories build on decoding skills and fluency
4. Digital camera/ a camcorder-- take pictures of or record classroom work/activities, then download Photostory or use Windows Movie Player for digital story telling or creating videos of students doing Reading Theater.
5.Bring the internet to your class by downloading clips: video/audio from YOUTUBE, TEACHERTUBE or wherever on to a flash drive and play it on your computer to your class to engage them in writing and reading activities. You will need a 4-8 gb flash.
6. Many students have computers at home so you could make copies of files of activities for your students to take home on their flash drive to practice. There are also CD-ROMS and DVDs that are available.
My school for the first time has placed an audio book on the booklist for the Form one Literature class. Now the stronger students can read the text and the struggling students will have the scaffold of a CD of the book being read by an actor
I created google accounts for my students and whatever ICT assignments we start in school they can email to me to correct once they complete them whether they use the computers in school, at home or the library.
All you really need is some imagination and sharing with like minded teachers and we can move mountains
Wow! This is fantastic information. I welcome the many creative ways one can use technology to enhance reading without the students having access to the internet at school. I personally like the benefits of producing e-books using Microsoft PowerPoint, tape recorders, camera/ camcorder. The opportunities for reading and learning are awesome. The children can use multimedia to contribute to the creation of exciting e-books which they can reread individually and the voice recordings and graphics (depicting the main ideas of the story) will help them in vocabulary development, comprehension and reading fluency. Also the stimulating animations moving from slide to slide will enhance the appeal and motivation to read.
ReplyDeleteYes there is so much to learn and try but one person cannot do it all; there are only so many hours in the day, right?
ReplyDeleteSo with a network of like-minded persons who experiment and share, you can build up a toolkit of tried and true activities if you will a bag of tools/tips that you can use with students or other teachers. we need to share with each other so that we create a synergy 2+2=5. THANKS for commenting on my blog
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting to my blogspot. Your response really inspired me and your ideas were great. However,not wanting to sound like a dumper, I have tried a few interactive sessions using the computer and outside of the fact that the lack of individual classrooms coupled with the fact that many students do not have that level of technological skill still leads me to believe it will be a challenge for some of us.
Junette
Hi Junette
ReplyDeleteWhat you observed is true--the flip side of the story concerning our students in this digital age: many of them are not tech savvy although they do facebook and use the internet, they may still lack basic web technology/computer literacy.
There is a digital divide between those who know and those who don't know so web 2.0 technology is not a panacea:cure all. We may find that on top of teaching traditional literacy we still have to turn around and teach them the basics about the internet.
The good part is that they catch on faster with learning the technology which can serve to motivate them with the writing and reading.
There will always be challenges but we can make the difference once we prepare ourselves for the task at hand.