Why+Wiki?

Why Wiki: Many teachers are in panic because their entire platform is changing. Teachers are beginning to embark on a new journey for the first time in many centuries, creating a new classroom environment. The big question that is on many teachers minds is how to teach using technology? The goal still remains the same, teaching students on how to read and write. Technology is a great tool to teach and assess students learning. One way technology can be used in the classroom is to keep students up-to-date on their assignments and grades. It also will prepare them for the future. Many students will be responsible for jobs in the future where they need to know how to use technology efficiently. As stated by Cummings, Brown, and Sayers (2007) “Schools are intended to shape the next generation, and images of students, teachers and society are inevitable embedded in this process” (p.37). Teaching using technology will prepare the students for future needs. Technology can also be a tool for teachers. Teachers now have access to a variety of lessons and ideas other teachers around the global are using. As stated by Cummings, Brown, and Sayers (2007). “Information and communication technologies (ICT) are opening up access to education of self-learning” (p. 40). Teachers need to work together to build a site with tools and resources that can be used for their school and their department. Lastly technology is meant to enhance the learning environment. Students should be learning the same goals and objectives. Technology can be a tool teachers use to get those goals addressed. Many schools already use laptops and smart boards. Using technology provides students with unique occasions to develop literacy in a new format. Adults now communicate through typing emails rather than writing a letter. If technology is changing it may be a good idea to incorporate multimedia in the classroom to prepare them for their future. “Teachers can also use digital books which include oral translation of text, interactive pictures, animations, narration, music, sound effects, word games and activities, and speech feedback designed to help children read and understand story components” (McKenna et al., 2011 p. 368). Digital books will help struggling readers because these interactive features will help with their comprehension of the text and hearing expression during oral reading. These new curriculum materials are very relevant to today’s society.

Cummings, Jim. Brown, K. & Sayers, D. (2007). Literacy, technology and diversity: Teaching for success in changing times. New York: Pearson.

McKenna, M. C., Labbo, L. D., Conradi, K., & Baxter, J. (2011) Effective uses of technology in literacy instruction. In L. B. Gambrell, L. M. Morrow, //Best// //practices in literacy instruction// (4th ed., pp. 361-384). New York: Guilford Press.