Using Technology For Phonics Instruction

Throughout this course, a new perspective has provided us with the opportunity to take a look at many of the different ways in which the digital world has become one of the most dominant viewpoints of today’s generation, and how technology has taken over and welcomed itself into many aspects of our lives. This course paper will take a look at one topic of interest in particular, which in hopes will shed some light on a heavily discussed topic in the education world: does technology help or hinder the student. This paper will look to prove the point and discover more about the way in which technology has been incorporated into the classroom, both in an elementary context as well as a post-secondary context, and the effects that it has had on the student, the teacher, and the overall academic development that accompanies it.

Teachers can use technology within the classroom to assist with providing instructional guidance and education to students. However, the use of technology in the classroom has both its advantages and

New literacies change the teaching of reading in many ways. Reading is no longer considered a process where students sit and read, analyze or discuss information only from books, printed articles or newspaper. As new technology shape literacies, children are now required to be exposed to so much more. Today, new literacy calls for teachers to teach literacy instruction through the use of technologies in order to enhance learning and productivity. Technologies such as computers, interactive whiteboards, word processing and desktop publishing, multimedia publishing, E-books, audio/video recordings, television programs, just to name a few.

We are living in a country that is called a technologically civilized society. The use of the Internet has not changed the way that we think but it is making unique contributions in classrooms by providing us with immediate and convenient access to an extraordinary amount of ideas and information. “In the world that we currently live in, technology is a very vital factor”. Today most people are more familiar with the gadget they carry in their backpack or even in their pocket; which is technically advanced. Every other day a new software device is being brought into the marketplace that helps to improve our knowledge in and out of school. in one way, the internet provides a much easier opportunity in education for student everywhere with access to all kinds of books available at any time. However, it is important to note that despite the fact that technology plays a big role in making our school lives much easier, it is not the only role it has. The internet seems to be impairing our ability to focus and to think deeply on any subject. The more technology continues to grow, the more improvement it provides in education level for certain students while for others it has a very different effect in the way we read and take in information. Furthermore, I will be discussing both pros and cons of the way technology is used in and out of our schools today.

Two important aspects of using technology in the classroom to promote learning are included in our text. They are:

Often when kids hear they get to use computers during their day at school they get excited, but not for the right reasons. When teachers allow their students to use technology in the classroom, it gets easily abused. This generation of kids and students are so reliant on technology to get them through the day that it has almost become a shortcut for assignments or notes. Some students also get far off task during the lesson that it reflects on their tests or assignments. Some people and some teachers believe that computers in the classroom are helpful, studies have proven otherwise. Although technology is very useful throughout the school day, students tend to distract themselves and it hinders their

It has forced its way into our classrooms and is being pushed upon our students. Technology has proven to advance the present and give us the ability to do things we would have never dream of, but is it helping in every category? Throughout this essay, I will be discussing research I have done containing both the pros and the cons on technologies effect on our literacy.

One of the lessons explains how the reading learning programs based on the whole language can be "a disaster" for children who struggling with processes involving reading learning for example phonological awareness, and also exemplified popular and expensive reading programs as "my baby can read" which I am very familiar with. I agree that reading program makes the child instead of learning to read, memorize the words and short sentences shown in the videos and flash cards continuously.

The most basic principle of technology is a piece of paper and pen. Due to the abundant usage of applying technology like: tablets, computer desktops and laptops, programs, and websites, they are individually affecting the traditional forms of learning in negative ways (Black, 617). Although, technology can have some forms of promoting positive learning abilities, there are very mixed concerns with everyday usage versus it only being applied when needed for the curriculum. For example, computer literacy is accepted as an integral and crucial part of learning class materials, especially for childhood class projects. Most information is obtainable online via children scholarly websites and school databases. Without an essential school district website, many parents would not be able to view certain important dates, upcoming events for their children to attend; whereas children whom learn to use computer databases for school projects will have the ability to find sources and an abundance of information. Nowadays, it has been proven that children who are much more literate with navigating the Internet, all of its properties, and how computers work in general will be expected to know how to use computers in their near future (Black, 617). Studies also have shown that amongst many educators, using technological tools for educational purposes may be considered a hindrance in regards to adapting and learning the new ways of technology compared to the traditional ways of educating. But, since children are now brought into a society that is extremely literate in operating and navigating these technological devices inside and outside of the classroom, teachers ensure that they are using these devices and programs inside the classrooms for educational purposes throughout the entire curriculum (Black, 617).

This research paper examines the benefit of the incorporation of technology when teaching literacy in the kindergarten classroom. It searches the advantages and disadvantages of the implementation of technology from the use of smartboards, iPads, iPhones, mp3 devices, tablets, computers, and software. The literature review provides an understanding of the different uses of technology and the positive and

Although having technology in a classroom is changing how the children learn in the classroom because technology teaches the brain to read in a different way than if a teacher would teach a student how to read a book.

Providing resource classrooms with sufficient technology can help all students learn in a much more productive forum.

Technology can help students in all areas of study. Students need to be able to use this technology since, “Currently and in the near future, it is understood that students need to acquire more autonomous skills of ‘information gathering, analysis, and display’” (Todnem, 2004, p. 1). Furthermore, the use of technology, mainly the internet, provides for variation since “Students find themselves bored and burnt-out of the lecture format to classes, so changing the curriculum and instruction to include things like online assignments and educational videogames can be one clear remedy” (Todnem, 2004, p. 1). Teachers who have implemented technology into their classrooms have noticed changes in their students. The most common of these effects being an increase in motivation. In “Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students” another positive effect is given “technology effect stressed by many teachers was enhancement of student self esteem” (“Effects,” 2004, p. 2).

Are computers helpful to a child’s learning process or do they completely ruin it? Many people have a strong opinion on technology and using it in schools. Parents, educators and students all have different views on the topic. Some people believe that it is unnecessary to use technology in schools, and who encourage traditional teaching and hands on learning; others believe that technology is enticing the children and putting forth an engaging way of presenting information. Many schools are going towards the direction of including technology as an effective tool used for their curriculum, but there still needs to be a hands on aspect to introduce the children to new experiences. Education should be a mixture of technology and hands on; traditional teaching needs to be balanced to create a complete connection needed for the real world for children in school.

Also by the year 1999 it is found that an unexpectedly a larger percentage (96.95%) of kindergarten students can access computers either home or school. Based on some statistics, even poor students who might not access the technology at home are utilizing it by either using the available resources in the library of their school, or in a classmate’s house. These statistics prove that technology has a vital role in the lives of students. It has helped to verify why an educator presume the change is essential in teaching and learning methods. If students are so engaged in using the technology outside the classroom, they value it. Then it would be logical to assume that if technology were merged into the classroom learning environment has to be more purposeful to the students. Considering the fact that all parts of society are changed significantly in an unseen way by information technology and has been continuing the change so that the future will not be neglected. Schools have to adopt these changes and research must advance with the belief that technology is and will exist to be an expanding component in the educational system. This is the actuality why the students are so involved when it comes to the usage of technology. It is a herculean task to progress in a world which is run by technology and not be affected by it.