Content+Area+Resources

Content Area Resources  "Reading With Technology"

Concern #1: The first concern that automatically comes to mind is protecting eyes from having to read off of the computer screen. Often when students read off of a screen, their eyes can become blurred and dry. Furthermore, it can result in suffering from shoulder, neck and head pains from the constant straining in order to read the text on the computer. At such an early age, children's eyes should be better protected and cared for. Here is a link to further discuss eye strain. [|WebMD]

Concern #2: Using technology to help children read could actually be limiting. The technology and software might be providing too much assistance for the children, resulting in less learning and grasping of reading concepts. When reading a book on their own, they have to use things such as foreshadowing and context clues to understand text, whereas with technology you can simply click on a word and it gives you the meaning. This creates concern that children are given too much information that they would otherwise have to learn on their own.

Concern #3: Another common concern is that software cannot provide suitable feedback for children's needs. Certain functions such as having a "follow along" activity aid in student's learning but not all software guarantees these critical aspects. This poses the opposite problem of concern #2. If a peice of technology does not access all the functions a child needs to better their learning process, their intake may be hindered. Here is a link that points out further [|Pros and Cons on Digital Books]

Suggestion #1: To refrain from hurting student's eyes while reading on the computer screen, I suggest limiting the amount of time they spend doing this. My students will be reading much more with actual paper books then on the computer. I think they should be reading on the computer only during their designated "centers" time and it should not be longer than 30 minutes.

Suggestion #2: In order to establish student's reading progress, it is better to monitor with running records and actual books, rather than technology, in my opinion. This is especially true for the younger and still developing ages. As the teacher, once I have identified indivdual strengths and weaknesses, then it will be easier to assess what technology should be permitted for my students.

Suggestion #3: I suggest doing your research and asking your fellow educators what best suited their students. This is an easy problem to fix if you make an effort to find what is right for your classroom and individual students. This way the technology does not confuse students and end up leaving them feeling lost. Ask for feedback and revise from there.

**Helpful Websites** [|ReadWriteThink] This website is helpful in aiding teachers and parents. It is a great tool to use outside the classroom and during summer breaks in order to continue your child's reading progression. There are plenty of links for classroom recourses. [|ReadingA-Z] This is a reading resource website. There is everything from vocabulary to poetry. You can also add your email address for access to free books online. [|Literacy/Reading Comprehension] This link takes you to a reading comprehension website. You can assess your students as teachers or parents on their individual reading levels. This pin-points their strengths and weaknesses in order to further their reading progression. [|Starfall] This is more of a fun website for your kids. It has tons of games and activities that go along with learning to read. Allowing them to play while learning shines a more positive light when it comes to reading. [|Technology in the Classroom] Here is one more link that takes you to an article by David Parry (University of Albany) discussing more information on technology in the classroom. It also talks about using blogs for learning. We can never do enough research, enjoy! :)

Here is a video about former street children, currently under rehabilitaion at the Interim Care Centre in Thika Town, Kenya, begining to use basic computer skill training. This was a new initiative by Action Children in Conflict (AfCIC). In the video, the children demonstrate a greater enagement of the lesson being taught, because they are able to interact using the computers. This is a positive tribute to the use of reading with technology.

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