Journal #3: Literacy Instruction For Older Struggling Readers: What is the Role of Technology? - 4 views

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  #1 Wendy Morales on 24 Feb 12

   

   http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/read180/pdfs/Hasselbring_and_Goin_technology_literacy_professional_paper.pdf
  
  This article from Scholastic is meaningful to me because in general, older students seem to receive little remediation for reading and spelling skills unless they qualify for special education services. With illiteracy being pinpointed as a major factor behind poverty and crime, shouldn't more reading programs be offered in secondary school? Studies show that literacy-promoting activities can help overcome such factors. The article tells how computer-based literacy programs can help.
  
  In this generation most teenagers are very receptive to using technology to obtain reading help. Described is an intervention for middle school and high school struggling readers that does just that. With the use of a technology-based program called PLL (Peabody Literacy Lab) older students can become fluent readers. This integrated media program was developed over several years and researched with secondary students who had a history of struggling with reading. It mediates instruction in word recognition, decoding, and spelling, as well as the comprehension of text passages. It helps students develop phonological awareness and orthographic reliability. Instruction is presented via a video anchor using topics that are interesting to this age group. An animated tutor guides the student and provides feedback using a digitized human voice. The program tracks individual student progress and adjusts the instruction accordingly.
  
  As teachers, I feel we must remember that reading help is also needed in upper grades. Many older students are poor readers, and unfortunately, the effects of illiteracy are proven to hinder their futures. I think computer-based programs, like PLL, can afford older students the instruction and practice they need to become fluent, capable readers. The research described in this article proves that PLL does motivate and challenge such students.

   

  <div class="cArrow"> </div><div class="cContentInner"><a jquery164019574541958963715="4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/read180/pdfs/Hasselbring_and_Goin_technology_literacy_professional_paper.pdf"><span style="DISPLAY: none !important"> </span>http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/read180/pdfs/Hasselbring_and_Goin_technology_literacy_professional_paper.pdf</a> <br /> <br /> This article from Scholastic is meaningful to me because in general, older students seem to receive little remediation for reading and spelling skills unless they qualify for special education services. With illiteracy being pinpointed as a major factor behind poverty and crime, shouldn't more reading programs be offered in secondary school? Studies show that literacy-promoting activities can help overcome such factors. The article tells how computer-based literacy programs can help. <br /> <br /> In this generation most teenagers are very receptive to using technology to obtain reading help. Described is an intervention for middle school and high school struggling readers that does just that. With the use of a technology-based program called PLL (Peabody Literacy Lab) older students can become fluent readers. This integrated media program was developed over several years and researched with secondary students who had a history of struggling with reading. It mediates instruction in word recognition, decoding, and spelling, as well as the comprehension of text passages. It helps students develop phonological awareness and orthographic reliability. Instruction is presented via a video anchor using topics that are interesting to this age group. An animated tutor guides the student and provides feedback using a digitized human voice. The program tracks individual student progress and adjusts the instruction accordingly. <br /> <br /> As teachers, I feel we must remember that reading help is also needed in upper grades. Many older students are poor readers, and unfortunately, the effects of illiteracy are proven to hinder their futures. I think computer-based programs, like PLL, can afford older students the instruction and practice they need to become fluent, capable readers. The research described in this article proves that PLL does motivate and challenge such students.</div>

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