Literacy and Technology Fall 2021

              The role of educators has evolved significantly in recent years. Today, we understand that a teacher’s job entails much more than just teaching. We are mentors, coaches, cheerleaders, and guides in the journey of each student as they develop their own self-identities and explore the world around them. We are responsible for nurturing not just academic growth, but also social, emotional, and personal development. This is by no means a simple task, especially given the ever-changing nature of today’s society. Luckily, there are many resources available to help students engage in meaningful learning about their own identity and the identities of others.        But, what is identity?      First, we must understand the impact identity has on our classrooms and students’ educational experience. Each student enters the classroom with a unique identity. Several aspects make up our identities, such as gender...

Assistive Technology  in Literacy      Integrating digital technology tools into teachers’ instruction can enhance learning and increase engagement in the classroom. These digital devices can serve as assistive technology that provide students with disabilities the support they need to have success in literacy. According to the Assistive Technology Act (2004), assistive technology is defined as, “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability”. As technology advances, so does the way assistive technology can be used to support every child in need. An important factor teachers should note is that all students should be encouraged to explore assistive technology, regardless of a disability or not. Assistive technology can be beneficial for everyone in their literacy development, as students can, “ref...

  There is no doubt that technology can be implemented to further enhance a student’s learning. Over the past decade, teachers have begun to integrate various uses of technology into their classrooms. While some teachers have thrived with this vast number of resources, others have struggled with many parts of this new-aged way of teaching. One essential component of education that teachers fear is being negatively impacted by the use of technology is collaboration. Some believe that as we increase the use of technology in the classroom, the implementation of collaboration decreases. Collaboration is an imperative part of learning. This process allows for students to work with one another, amplify and deepen understanding, and provide opportunity for authentic learning. Students are able to find their voice and share their opinion by working with their classmates. Collaboration teaches students a very beneficial lesson: how to work with one another in a way that allows all student...

Technology is a Smooth Criminal:  We Must Secure the Fruits of Learning ! In order to personify a particular "thing," it has to have some significance to it. Technology is living, breathing, and progressively taking control of our daily lives. The suffix "ology" refers to a subject of study, and as we continue to study technology, it seems as if technology is now studying us -- what humans prefer, enjoy, and desire. Technology is smooth. It gently arrives at our fingertips and into our convenience. A phone is no longer just a phone. It has a built-in camera, calculator, internet, notepad, games, photo gallery, mail, and those are just the general features.  A phone is now a euphemism that obtains the many wants and needs of a human, whereas the word "robot" seems to fit the precise term that it deserves.  Technology has provided the world an extraordinary amount of convenience; it saved the day in 2020 to help spread the news as fast as possible, provid...