"Technology (through television, texting, Facebook posting, and the Internet), has contributed to an increase in literacy skills."
Technology has completely changed the world and the way literacy skills are obtained. The use of different digital devices and services has led to an overall increase in the literacy skills of the general population. One of the largest contributions to this growth in literacy is the widespread use of mobile phones and portable devices. Texting has become one of the most widely used forms of communication across the world, and it alone helps to increase literacy in many ways. For one, texting requires spelling. Even if the word is not spelled correctly there are options such as auto complete (which corrects misspellings as they occur) and a swipe function (all you need to know is the basic outline of the word). Other devices have applications such as a quick access thesaurus and dictionary. Text messaging is not the only benefit that cell phones provide to literacy. Cell phones are now as advanced as computers from a decade ago, if not more so. The more formal mode of education for Africa has proven to not be enough, but cell phones are lending a hand. Mobile device usage is actually increasing literacy in the country of Africa as well as the overall education of the people of that region. While formal education has been struggling in Africa mobile phone usage has grown exponentially. Africa is now the fast growing and second largest mobile phone market in the world. The main reason for this increase in usage is due to the price of mobile phones compared to computers as well as the many different things that can be done with mobile phones and other devices. Mobile phones provide many different resources that younger students can use to assist them, which include anything from their math homework to keeping updated on world news and daily events. In many regions of Africa cell phones and SMS text messaging provide the only channel for effectively distributing reading materials , given the high cost of books and distribution, especially to rural areas. In other regions of the world, there are many technological norms of today that help to increase literacy. For example, children that blog or use facebook have been seen to have higher literacy levels than those that do not. Some research has shown that technology offers different writing opportunities for younger people, which increases their confidence in using these different forms of writing. Having a blog and using Facebook also helps to increase the enjoyment of and confidence in writing abilities. Computers and cell phones allow them to concentrate and be more creative, which encourages them to write more often. A great indication of how much technology has helped literacy is in a saying that is commonly heard in today's world. "There's an app for that." There are applications and resources available that can help anyone learn nearly anything. There are many geared specifically towards increasing the literacy of the user. It is even possible to teach your self a new language using tutoring from youtube.com and applications like Translate, which allows a user that is fluent in another language to determine the meanings of words and phrases. There are also resources that help to increase the reading skills that an adult has. It goes far than just learning to read, there are resources that can be found that will even help an individual train to speed read. Technological resources even help to improve the literacy of individuals with learning disabilities. Picture That Dictionary is a talking picture dictionary that is geared towards meeting the needs of individuals with dyslexia that are learning to read. These are just a few examples of how literacy has been increased based on technological advances and the widespread use of digital devices. A book, pen, and paper are no longer required to learn how to read and write.
Contributions and roles. 1. Lona Bibb - Information Organizer 2. Brandon Brumitt - Diigo Egitor 3. Raymond Brown - Composer/submitter of final statement. Provided one source. 4. Amanda Buck - Research and assist with composition of final statement.
I think its great but i have a opinion about organization of the paragraphs.... can we separate the statement and paragraph in more organized form as its talking about various methods? I think that way is more compelling in an argument
Facebook posting, and the Internet),
has contributed to an increase in literacy skills."
Technology has completely changed the world and the way literacy skills are obtained. The use of different digital devices and services has led to an overall increase in the literacy skills of the general population. One of the largest contributions to this growth in literacy is the widespread use of mobile phones and portable devices. Texting has become one of the most widely used forms of communication across the world, and it alone helps to increase literacy in many ways. For one, texting requires spelling. Even if the word is not spelled correctly there are options such as auto complete (which corrects misspellings as they occur) and a swipe function (all you need to know is the basic outline of the word). Other devices have applications such as a quick access thesaurus and dictionary.
Text messaging is not the only benefit that cell phones provide to literacy. Cell phones are now as advanced as computers from a decade ago, if not more so. The more formal mode of education for Africa has proven to not be enough, but cell phones are lending a hand. Mobile device usage is actually increasing literacy in the country of Africa as well as the overall education of the people of that region.
While formal education has been struggling in Africa mobile phone usage has grown exponentially. Africa is now the fast growing and second largest mobile phone market in the world. The main reason for this increase in usage is due to the price of mobile phones compared to computers as well as the many different things that can be done with mobile phones and other devices. Mobile phones provide many different resources that younger students can use to assist them, which include anything from their math homework to keeping updated on world news and daily events. In many regions of Africa cell phones and SMS text messaging provide the only channel for effectively distributing reading materials , given the high cost of books and distribution, especially to rural areas.
In other regions of the world, there are many technological norms of today that help to increase literacy. For example, children that blog or use facebook have been seen to have higher literacy levels than those that do not. Some research has shown that technology offers different writing opportunities for younger people, which increases their confidence in using these different forms of writing. Having a blog and using Facebook also helps to increase the enjoyment of and confidence in writing abilities. Computers and cell phones allow them to concentrate and be more creative, which encourages them to write more often.
A great indication of how much technology has helped literacy is in a saying that is commonly heard in today's world. "There's an app for that." There are applications and resources available that can help anyone learn nearly anything. There are many geared specifically towards increasing the literacy of the user. It is even possible to teach your self a new language using tutoring from youtube.com and applications like Translate, which allows a user that is fluent in another language to determine the meanings of words and phrases. There are also resources that help to increase the reading skills that an adult has. It goes far than just learning to read, there are resources that can be found that will even help an individual train to speed read. Technological resources even help to improve the literacy of individuals with learning disabilities. Picture That Dictionary is a talking picture dictionary that is geared towards meeting the needs of individuals with dyslexia that are learning to read.
These are just a few examples of how literacy has been increased based on technological advances and the widespread use of digital devices. A book, pen, and paper are no longer required to learn how to read and write.
List of Sources used
1. Study: Children Who Blog or Use Facebook Have Higher Literacy Levels -- http://www.scribd.com/doc/23637385/Study-Children-Who-Blog-Or-Use-Facebook-Have-Higher-Literacy-Levels
2. Technological Literacy Programs -- http://www2.canada.com/ottawacitizen/story.html?id=5e72a559-e6fe-45c0-9815-715dad574130&p=2
3. Steve Vosloo, Mobile Learning Specialist -- http://stevevosloo.com/
Contributions and roles.
1. Lona Bibb - Information Organizer
2. Brandon Brumitt - Diigo Egitor
3. Raymond Brown - Composer/submitter of final statement. Provided one source.
4. Amanda Buck - Research and assist with composition of final statement.