Integrating Technology

into the

Language

Arts

Classroom

by:Denise L. StemmlerCCSU Rdg. 598-SP03

Is using technology to enhance

literacy development worth it?

Money Time Frustration

READING: from decoding to negotiating hypertext

WRITING: journals, reports, multimedia presentations and more

SPEAKING: conversationally or publicly

VIEWING: pictures, graphics, maps or the Internet

LISTENING: informally or formally

Wide Screen TV Digital phones

Aerospace travel, new modes of transportation

Data Storage: CDs or DVDs

Robotics

Microwave cooking

Electronics

Digital Cameras and Recorders

Computers and the Internet

x =

Positive Examples

of

Integrating Technology

to Achieve

Enhanced Literacy

Evidence of increased editing and revising (MacArthur, 2001)

Assists writer in all phases of writing process (Kamil, 2000)

When students using computers are compared to students using pen and paper, computer group produces higher quality work (Kamil, 2000)

Increases audience awareness (Baker, 2000)

High School science students were found to be highly engaged in a data organization activity with the use of hypermedia software (Chen, 2003).

An Australian study shows student attitudes about learning with computers effect the outcome of computer use (Tolhurst, 2002)

Multimedia interpretation provides opportunities for students to see relationships and generate questions that allowed them to develop deeper understanding of characters and their motivations (Smagorinski, 1998).

. . . . . . . .and more

Research with a toddler comparing the use of traditional books vs. multimedia books showed that both promoted early acquisition of the purposes of reading and the elements involved in learning how to read, but multimedia text increased letter recognition skills by focusing the child on print (Smith, 2001).

AND…..

MULTIMEDIA TEXT PROVIDES

OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIFFERENTIATION OF

INSTRUCTION

Computer-based cognitive assessment

programs provide more precise results than conventional

cognitive tests.

The downside

of

Utilizing Technology

to Achieve

Enhanced Literacy

It is sometimes difficult to measure individual student ideas (Baker, 2000).

Without direct instruction from teacher, there was little or no difference in student writing when using computers as compared to pen and paper (MacArthur, 2001).

Some studies do not show gains in technology-based reading instruction over traditional reading instruction for non at-risk students (Nicolson, 2000) (Balajthy, 2000)(Page, 2002).

In the absence of any instruction, computer-based programs are found to be more enjoyable by the study participants, but produce similar results as text-based programs (Kuehner, 1999).Many studies are new, have not been duplicated to authenticate them, and require further consideration (Oostdam, 2002).

Health issues include difficulty seeing text on a screen and discomfort when sitting at a computer for long periods of time

No time for preparing integrated lessons (Karchmer, 2000)

No training for either teachers or students (Mills, 2003)

Poor quality or quantity of equipment and no money to properly repair, maintain or purchase equipment

“Promoting literacy and promoting technology need not be separate realities.”

- Labbo (1999)

Is using technology to enhance

literacy development worth it?

THAT IS NOT THE

QUESTION!!!!!!

How can we as educators make it worth it?