March 2003 — Features

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Integrating Technology Into a Reading Program

By Shawna White May

Being a teacher is a difficult job. You often have more than 25 students in your classroom and several different learning styles. In addition, it is your responsibility as a teacher to reach all of the students. How is this achievable? I believe this can be made possible through the use of instructional technology - a combination of the everyday processes and tools needed to address those educational problems with an emphasis on integrating the technology tools that are now available. Instructional technology d'es not mean that the teacher uses the computer to keep his or her gradebook or create worksheets, and it d'es not mean that the teacher is the only one using the technology. It means that the teacher is using numerous types of technology to enhance what the students are learning. Therefore, the students are the ones who should be engaged using the technology.

Software, Hardware Resources

In most educational settings today, you will hear two key words: reading and technology. So, why not integrate technology into reading? This is the goal that I have set for myself as an instructional technology teacher. How can I make reading more enjoyable, reach all learners and teach those standards that the students need? I am using several different types of software applications in my classroom to help achieve all of these goals, including Kidspiration, Timeliner, That's A Fact Jack and Island Reading Journey.

Kidspiration is a kid-friendly, easy-to-use software program that creates story webs and other types of brainstorming activities. Timeliner creates timelines and other kinds of sequencing charts. That's A Fact Jack is a program with a list of books and a game that asks questions about those books. Island Reading Journey and its sequel are similar to That's A Fact Jack. They have their own lists of books and require students to perform different tasks based on these lists. The programs offer students learning activities such as crossword puzzles, short answer questions and cloze paragraphs.

For hardware, I use AlphaSmart tools, a digital camera, a 27" VGA monitor, a color inkjet printer and various computers. The AlphaSmarts are inexpensive wireless keyboards that have all the functions of a regular keyboard and a small screen that shows what you are typing. Once you are finished typing, you can connect the devices to computers and send the content to most word-processing and desktop-publishing programs. It also allows users to plug into a printer and print. This is a great tool in the classroom, because it is difficult to get writing and typing done with only two or three computers for all the students.

I have four working computers in my room, but my school also has a portable lab with 18 laptops that I can use with my class. Through the use of all of these resources, I am helping my students become better, independent readers and thinkers.

Obtaining Technological Knowledge, Skills

Research is starting to show that integration of technology with a literacy program is increasing the student's ability to read (Teale et al.