MD2Assign2Snow2
Reading K-12 (reading applications)
Reading ApplicationsEnhances – Story telling,
reading, language arts, and reading across the curriculum. It also enhances vocabulary as well as
students with visual and auditory disabilities.
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Obsoletes –
Text books, dictionaries, thesauruses, and other resource books.
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Retrieves – Story
telling, students being read to
by a computer instead of a parent.
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Reversal – Newer and faster applications 3g
to 4g and so forth.
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Thornburg (2008) states that the tetrad of the effects of technologies is
not sequential, but simultaneous. Reading
applications enhance reading, language arts, and vocabulary. It also provides support for students with
visual and auditory disabilities. It
obsoletes text books, and other resources.
Because of the Internet connection, there is no need for resource
books. It retrieves oral storytelling by
reading stories for students. It
reverses faster applications.
Reading K-12 has
become an important requirement of the Core Curriculum Standards in most
states. In the state of Georgia, it is
imperative that students enhance their reading skills. The standards will improve reading, literacy,
and critical thinking. The changes will
lead to a national assessment in which student performance and be reliably
compared from state to state (Washington & Badertscher, 2012). The article in the AJC goes on to state that
the changes will infuse reading and writing into every subject across the
curriculum. Technology has caused
reading to become more mobile. With
iPads, iPhones, Kindles, and Netbooks; students will be able to read
independently outside the classroom. The
reading apps on these tools help students with vocabulary, definitions, and are
able to connect to the Internet for other resources. A study conducted by PBS found that the use
of educational iPhone apps increased student’s vocabulary acquisition by thirty
one percent within a span of two weeks.
Students now have the digital technology to help them learn
language. PCWorld named the iPad the
best toy of the year in 2010. Early
reading specialist Kiera Parrott stated that with the right tool and the right
app, a child can explore reading, early learning concepts, and sensory-rich
play (Munoz, 2012). A study in the
Journal “Computers and Education" they found that interactive digital
reading instruction had lasting positive effects on children's literacy skills. LeVar Burton launched the “Reading Rainbow”
app on the iPad ( Edwards, 2012). It is
geared toward students ages three through nine.
The article goes on to state that the free app contains one hundred
fifty stories and sixteen videos. The
only drawback is the 9.99 a month fee.
Resources:
Thornburg,
D. D. (2008b). Emerging technologies and McLuhan's laws of media. Lake
Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration. Retrieved from: https://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/USW1/201270_01/PH_EDUC/NCATE_EDUC_8848_EDUC_7108/Module%202/Resources/Resources/embedded/emerging_technologies_and_mcluhan%27s_laws_of_media.pdf
Tracy,
ReplyDeleteMy findings were similar to what you found in your related articles and studies, that the use of iPad and iPhone apps has not only increased students' ability to read, but it also supports them learning other important literacy skills. I believe that this will be very successful in meeting the requirements of the new Core Curriculum standards. I love the idea of the Reading Rainbow app, as I watched it all the time as a child. It seems like a great tool for my Pre-K students who already love viewing interactive online stories I show them on our SMART board. The apps give the additional ability to choose stories for each student based on their reading level and needs. Since there are different tablets for reading such as the Nook and Kindle, do you think that there eventually could be a tablet created specifically for classrooms with age-appropriate books preloaded? Great post!
Hi Tracy,
ReplyDeleteYour post is intriguing. Reading is such an important curriculum precondition for vocabulary and skills in understanding across subjects in the curriculum. Additional your technology caters for “Assistive Technology” which is becoming a staple to students’ learning ability and function because we all have some dyslexia situation. You touched me when you said the dictionaries and text books have to go. There is something sacred about text books and dictionaries that I have an intimate connection. But that’s for many people who still have a choice when they relax and work. The moment and time in a fast moving economy and learning system has definitely changed and we have to cope with the changes in time.
Parents using the internet for reading and storytelling to their kids are also a way for them to keep in touch with technology and they learn and work together. The new demand of 50% reading in subjects across the curriculum definitely will need the technology tools you identified for the K-12 population.
Great post!
Hi Tracy,
ReplyDeleteI agree that technologies like iPads, iPhones, Kindles etc. enable students to be able to get reading assistance beyond the class room and ubiquitous. You have provided lots of valuable and authentic information on interactive reading. I was shocked to learn about the study conducted by PBS “use of educational iPhone apps enhance the vocabulary by 31%”. I wish if all these apps were free for k12 students. At the same time, most school districts do not allow cell phone use on campus for various reasons. I wish we could use iPhones for educational purpose in the classrooms too.
Very informative post.
Hey Tracy. Have you ever used Second Life? I haven’t…don’t quite see the purpose for it in my personal life. Reading your post gave me more insight as to why people join these virtual worlds, so it was very informative. From this, I see exactly why I’ve never tried it. I have such a productive and fulfilling life in reality, I don’t have time to desire to be anyone or anything else. Therefore, for me, it would be a waste of my time to pretend to be someone or something else. I could be using that time that I’m pretending to actually better the real me. But those are my thoughts…
ReplyDeleteThinking about it from an academic perspective: I think that I could see more uses of it academically than personally. Academically, I see how it allows students to be creative, thereby developing their creative skills. I also see how it allows students to interact through communication and collaboration, thereby developing the skills that they will need to work well with others.