New+Literacy+Practice



New Literacy Practice

Technology and digital media are a prominent part of an early year’s classroom. Technology is fast becoming a popular way to enhance literacy teaching for students. Most primary schools have a moderate to high range of access to technology within the classroom. I visited a prep class at Orchard Grove Primary School for a two hour allocation and observed their use of technology within the classroom. The first instance of technology that I noticed the teacher use was the ‘Smart Board’ or ‘Interactive White Board’. This is a popular technological device found within many classrooms, that has taken the place of the generic whiteboard that long adorned the classroom wall. The Smart Board is touch screen capable and has many uses. The Smart Board can be connected to a computer or laptop, and literacy, numeracy and many other programs can be controlled from there by the teacher. The Smart Board is an ideal teaching tool as it is interactive and can be used by both the teacher and students. Also observed in the classroom to enhance literary teaching, was a computer lab (6 computers). Students were encouraged by their teacher to partake in literacy games/programs such as "Copa Cobana Get Smart", on the computers to aid their learning experience.

Early Year’s Learners are using digital technologies at home as well as when they are at school. Children in this particular age group (approx. 5-8) are tech savvy, as the majority of them begin using technology such as computers, the internet, television and HD recorders, smart phones and game consoles at home when they are quite young, which enables them to be technology competent when they begin school. The early year’s learner who I spoke with was highly competent in all functions belonging to the above technologies, and was comfortable using technology within the classroom also.

Brown, Bryan & Brown (2005), state that ‘Technology promotes literacy by allowing students to present and reconfigure information in numerous ways...technology helps teachers and learners discuss concepts, organize information and share thoughts through a variety of different ways’. The use of technology in the classroom can support and enhance Literacy learning by offering opportunities to explore new ways of learning. Students will learn to use digital media and tools, conduct research and demonstrate a sound knowledge of technology concepts. Technology can help students who struggle with normal methods of teaching, by providing alternate methods of learning and understanding. ‘Maybe I’m wrong, but I should say that in ten years textbooks as the principal medium of teaching will be obsolete, as obsolete as the horse and carriage now’. Edison (1925). Edison is predicting the end of the days of traditional literacy learning that involved only textbooks and worksheets. With the development of technology in the classroom, all students have access to new ways of understanding and developing their knowledge. Brown, Bryan & Brown (2005) explain that ‘Technology provides opportunities to gain expertise and capitalize on real life activities, problem-solving skills and literacy content’ . By this they are stating that by using technology to assist with learning, students will develop skills far superior compared to those with no technological assistance. Activities can be developed from the following technology to improve literacy learning. Smart Board, basic computing programs (word, excel), Venn diagrams, charts, as well as graphic organizers. The more practice a student has at these and other technology activities, the more that technology will enhance their Literacy learning.