"Being literate in contemporary society means being active, critical, and creative users not only of print and spoken language but also of the visual language of film and television, commercial and political advertising, photography, and more. Teaching students how to interpret and create visual texts such as illustrations, charts, graphs, electronic displays, photographs, film, and video is another essential component of the English language arts curriculum."
~NCTE
:What specific forms of technology affect literacy instruction the most?
What are the most beneficial and/or harmful uses of technology in literacy instruction?
•Provides a good reading role model for students
•Provides auditory representations of text
•Incorporates various modes of instruction (reading, viewing, listening)
•Students can control narration rate
Multiple representations of information
Fosters metacognative awareness
Addresses culturally responsive instruction
Students can control narration rates
Facilitates the writing process, especially the revising and editing stages
Allows for collaboration
Drafts are legible and easily understood, focusing students on content rather than structure
Efficient way to collaborate
Enhances communication
Prepares students for a globalized world
Provides opportunities for critical thinking and reflection
•Can integrate reading, writing, viewing, listening and speaking
easily•Allows access to areas not normally accessible
•Provides avenues for exploration, further analysis, and self-expression, and
provides background knowledge and support for reading and writing
Provides a more consistent and dependable approach to assessment
Digital portfolios, unlike the traditional paper portfolio, will become collections of
data tracking students’ progress
Allows teachers to individualize instruction because of more accurate assessment
Technology provides motivation previously unseen with traditional methods.
Although further research needs to be conducted, it is evident that technology can provide beneficial, lasting
effects on literacy instruction.