LIBE 477 - Assignment 1: Reading Review Part 3 - Research Synopsis

I went into this research optimistic and excited for the outcome. Throughout my practicums in Kindergarten and my specialty of Early Childhood Education during my Bachelor of Education, technology was something that was significantly lacking. I learned some amazing skills that I still use today as a TTOC all these years later, but as a love of science and technology in my personal life, my technological toolbox as a teacher was quite empty. After these few weeks of research, I can say that I have certainly added some tools, but not as many as I had hoped. 

I found quite a large number of journal articles, magazine articles, blog posts, websites and apps dedicated to helping readers, but these all had a focus on older students who were struggling, but already had the basics in place. When I filtered through all of the information, less and less seemed to relevant to my specific topic: strategies for using technology for teaching emergent readers to increase their fluency and (added as an afterthought later on) their confidence as a reader. When it came down to it, there were only a couple of relevant articles that I was able to find in my few short hours of research, specifically Biancarosa & Griffiths’ article Technology Tools to Support Reading in the Digital Age (2011) which focussed mainly on e-readers and Voogt and McKenney’s Using ICT to Foster (Pre) Reading and Writing Skills in Young Children (2007) which used a program called PictoPal. Both articles are around 10 years old, and technology years are similar to dog years. Both technologies are considered to be out-of-date, but the general findings are still relevant. Both articles stressed the importance of including scaffolding by teachers/parents as well as social interaction and frequent check-ins to increase reading skills. During computer/tablet time in schools, we often tell students to explore on their own, even in Kindergarten, but if we can start focussing on small group instruction/interactions during computer time, maybe we can help those students who are struggling to improve. This has definitely made me think about how I want to incorporate using websites and online tools for pre-reading strategies in the classroom and I would like to treat it more like other subjects, perhaps having it as a learning centre with teacher instruction, much like small reading groups are done. 

I would also consider my research a success, as I have found some interesting and engaging tools on the Scholastic website. I honestly never thought to look toward Scholastic for digital learning, but am pleasantly surprised by the quality of their research and the development of their programs and applications. I am excited to use their program in a small group setting someday! I was also very glad to find Tracy Plitz’s Blog up and running. I love the way that she sets up online newsletters each week to let parents know what is going on in her class and what technologies they will be learning or practicing and how it fits into her classroom curriculum. Her blog is how I hope my blog will someday look!

The key leanings and takeaways I have come to realize from this research is that instruction with technology still needs to be paired with adult support. Students today are so adept with technology that we let them take the reigns right from the get-go, but, like any other subject, scaffolding and support throughout is key.

Bibliography

Biancarosa, G., & Griffiths, G. (2011). Technology Tools to Support Reading in the Digital Age. Future of Children, 22:2, 139-160.

Biancarosa and Griffiths used e-readers to help primary students feel confidence with their reading. It discussed the gap in education between students of different socio-economic backgrounds due to availability of extra help as well as technology. They hoped that including e-readers (and newer technology) in the classroom, we could help narrow the gap between students who have ample access to technology and those that don't. I found this article useful in the sense that it solidified some ideas that I already had. It was a little outdated in terms of the technology at the time (e-readers), but the research carries over to apps on tablets, smartphones, etc. 

Little Learners. (June 19, 2017). Jolly Phonics - Sounds and Actions. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVyry9jpVjI

Little Learners is a YouTube Channel created by primary teacher Amy, who creates videos explaining to teachers (or parents) various learning and teaching techniques specifically aimed at primary students. The video in the link above is specifically about the Jolly Phonics program that is used in Kindergarten classes throughout BC and the world. She explains each sound and action as well as the reasoning behind why it is taught the way it is. This is such a wonderful resource and I am so glad to have found her channel! 

Piltz, T. (2019). Ideas for Tech Integration & Innovation in the Primary Classroom [Blog]. Retrieved September 20, 2019 from http://mrspiltzkindergarten.blogspot.com/

A teacher blog with technology programs specifically for the primary classroom. It is not reading-specific, but does include some pre-reading and reading resources. She has a lot of other skill building exercises including coding and creating QR codes as well as shows collaborations with other classrooms and bloggers. I will continue to explore this blog for new ideas in bring technology into practice in the primary setting specifically, but also in the library with older students as well.

Scholastic Education: Digital Solutions. Retrieved on September 19, 2019 from http://teacher.scholastic.com/education/digital-solutions.htm

Scholastic F.I.R.S.T. created by Dr. Kay MacPhee is a literacy program focussed on early learning and pre-reading skills. It includes games and activities that help build the skills needed for the "five foundational skills" of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. This is a wonderful resource that I can see myself signing up for if I get my own classroom. As a TTOC, I will keep it on the back burner for now.

Tahnk, Jeana Lee. (2014). Why We Need to Embrace Technology in the Classroom Right Now. Huffington Post - News. Retrieved September 20, 2019, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/technology-in-the-classroom_b_5946570

This article interviews educators and tech gurus about the changing of the world due to technology innovation and how critical it is for students to learn in a new way that embraces these changes. Six reasons for embracing technology in the classroom were: makes information limitless, gives teachers more freedom, adapts to different learning styles, makes learning more flexible. gets students excited, and prepares students for the future. This article gave some practical insights and really helped make it clear how important technology is in our world and why we need to incorporate it more into our schools and classrooms.

Voogt, J. & McKenney, S., (2007) Using ICT to Foster (Pre) Reading and Writing Skills in Young Children, Computers in the Schools, 24:3-4, 83-94.

Voogt and McKenney conducted a small study in the Netherlands that showed growth in reading and understanding through the use of Pictograms. It was noted that scaffolding done by the teacher and adult participation in the students learning (either teacher or parent volunteer) added to the success of students using this program. Much like the journal article above, this study helped solidify the beliefs I have about the importance of using technology in the classroom, the importance of scaffolding, and the importance of human interactions while using technology. The program used, as far as I can tell, no longer exists, but the findings are that pictograms can help young readers become more fluent and that success is found when using technology in the classroom. 

LIBE 477 - Assignment 1: Reading Review Part B - Literature Research and Data Collection

My focus on this assignment is fostering pre-reading skills. Fostering a love of stories and reading from an early age is so important for students to continue to succeed in later grades, but a lot of students fall through the cracks. With my research, I have found some multimedia tools to add to my toolbox to help as many students feel success as possible.

I was having a bit of difficulty narrowing down my search to specifically pre-reading skills. I had a lot of websites and blog posts talk about using technology with older students. I find that a lot of Kindergarten and early primary classes tend to shy away from technology or use the same couple of websites all the time (i.e. Starfall.com or razkids). I also found quite a few teacher blogs that were no longer active and seemed to stop pretty out nowhere (I know teachers get busy). I was lucky to find to journal articles through the UBC Library and was very interested to find quite a few resources through the Scholastic Website!


1. Using ICT to Foster (Pre) Reading and Writing Skills in Young Children

A small study was done with Kindergarten students in the Netherlands using PictoPal to explore "how technology can play a role in fostering the development and implementation of literacy and communications skills in kindergarten." (Page 84) PictoPal is a computer-based software that used semi-open activities consisting of Pictograms with pre- and post-tests to document and record student growth in "reading, writing, and authentic applications." (Page 83) Two studies were done with very small groups of students where the experimental group worked on Pictopal once a week for four and eight weeks, while the control group did not. It was noted that, with scaffolding and collaboration with both teachers and parent volunteers while using PictoPal also saw an increase in test scores. This is what stands out to me most. Students need scaffolding and social interaction to keep their learning in check and to build confidence in their skills. This gives me confidence that our jobs will not be taken over by robots (yet) and that technology

Voogt, J. & McKenney, S., (2007) Using ICT to Foster (Pre) Reading and Writing Skills in Young Children, Computers in the Schools, 24:3-4, 83-94.


2. Technology Tools to Support Reading in the Digital Age

This article talks about how with the increase in technology-use can widen the gaps of learning for students of different socio-economic statuses and how we can bridge these gaps with technology in the classroom. The article focusses mostly on E-Readers, as iPads were brand new at the time, and how "E-reading technology has shown promise in developing early reading skills and in giving readers with visual impairments or language based disabilities access to texts," (Page 143) especially with text-to-speech functions. Having access to e-readers, computers, or tablets in schools and having educators who can help scaffold the students to be able to work individually on these devices can help narrow the gap of learning between various students and have all students be on an equal playing field in terms of technology use and understanding. The conclusion of this article urged policy makers to make changes to education curriculums to include technology skills, and luckily in the 8 years since this article was written, changes have already been made. T

Biancarosa, G., & Griffiths, G. (2011). Technology Tools to Support Reading in the Digital Age. Future of Children, 22:2, 139-160.


3. Scholastic Education - Digital Solutions

Scholastic has been a part of school reading programs since before I can remember, and with various updates, they are here to stay. Scholastic offers "Digital Solutions" for the five foundational skills of learning to read: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension with their Scholastic F.I.R.S.T. Programme, created by Dr. Kay MacPhee. The Early Literacy Program uses various multimedia tools to practice mastery of the five foundational skills as well as creating connections between fiction and non-fiction stories to "build knowledge" and "curiosity." The activities continue to adapt to older learners and include activities to help students "analyze a text to wonder why and how ... [turning] students into strong, thoughtful readers."

Scholastic has stood the test of time and I'm glad to see they are integrating technology into their reading programs. I am excited to explore these program more thoroughly and hopefully be able to put some of their activities to use in a practical setting.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/education/digital-solutions.htm
Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIvShrAH5YY


4. Tracy Piltz - Ideas for Tech Integration & Innovation In The Primary Classroom

Integrating technology into building the foundations of pre-reading is something that I am very excited about, and I was very happy to find this blog by Tracy Plitz, a K-2 Technology Integration Teacher from Billings, Montana. This is the kind of blog I would like to have someday! She gives practical tips from personal experience and explains everything from how to get started with technology in your classroom if you have none to sharing specific apps that she has used with students and she has seen students have success with. She is a living example of using multimedia in the classroom! From collaboration with other teachers (I found http://connectedkinders.blogspot.com/ through Tracy's blog, although it has not been updated since 2014) to useful apps and from a Pinterest page full of Tech Infographics to info on creating and using QR Codes in the classroom, this blog is a wealth of practical knowledge on using technology to aid in teaching pre-reading skills.



http://mrspiltzkindergarten.blogspot.com/



5. Why We Need to Embrace Technology in the Classroom Right Now, by Jeana Lee Tahnk

“When I imagine the classroom of the future, I imagine a place where teachers and technology are partners in fostering that creative, curious urge and helping harness students’ authentic motivations towards learning.” - Matt Wallaert, Behavioural Scientist at Bing.com

In this article by Jeana Lee Tahnk, educational and technology experts Matt Wallaert and Dylan Arena, PhD, co-founder and chief learning scientist at Kidaptive gave their thoughts on technology in the modern classroom. It was emphasized that it is not enough to have students have access to technology; using technology requires scaffolding and should be a collaborative effort between teachers and students as well as between students and their peers. Six reasons for embracing technology in the classroom were given:

• Makes information limitless
• Gives teachers more freedom
• Adapts to different learning styles
• Makes learning more flexible
• Gets students excited
• Prepares students for the future

Tahnk, Jeana Lee. (2014). Why We Need to Embrace Technology in the Classroom Right Now. Huffington Post - News. Retrieved September 20, 2019, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/technology-in-the-classroom_b_5946570

LIBE 477 - Assignment 1: Reading Review Part A - Keyword Search

Reading has always been a big part of my life. Books take you on adventures to far-away places, give you knowledge about unknown topics, and can even put you through a rollercoaster of emotions as you get to know your favourite characters; but books aren't for everyone. One of my main goals when I decided to become a teacher (and a future teacher-librarian) was to instil a love of reading into every child I meet. A hefty goal for sure, and one I certainly won't meet, but that doesn't mean I won't try.

I grew up in a reading household. My father was an avid reader. My mother fostered a love of reading in me early on, but not because it was something that she loved. She had learning difficulties as a child in the 60s, and the school system of the time had failed her; but that doesn't mean she didn't try.

Speaking with her recently, I learned that at the age of 65, she read her first full novel for fun in years. She couldn't recall the last time she had finished a book. She had Apple Books on her phone and decided to try it out. For me, holding a real, tangible book in my hand and seeing how far I am through it and how far left to go always gives me great joy. To her, it gives her anxiety. Reading a book on her phone and not being able to physically see how many pages left to go was less daunting and she felt success. With the continued explosion of educational technology, I want to see less children fall through the cracks. I want to see more successes and more children feeling proud of their own style of learning.

BC Curriculum - Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies K/1: Explore the use of simple, available tools and technologies to extend their capabilities.
English Language Arts K/ 1: Use developmentally appropriate reading, listening, and viewing strategies to make meaning.

With my keyword searches, I am hoping to learn about different strategies for using technology for teaching emergent readers to increase their fluency, both in the classroom and at home. My keyword search will include: phonics, phonemic awareness, sight words, ICT and pre-reading, digital reading, educational technology, and ICT literary instruction. I am familiar with some online resources, such as Raz Kids, Starfall.com, and Reading AZ, but would like to find some resources that require more exploration, inquiry, and creativity than these websites offer.