Personally, I view the increased use of technology by children as a positive step forwards. Many children engage with technology on a variety of levels, as Dean (2010) corresponds that children thoroughly enjoy using multimedia and it motivates them to achieve their potential when combined with Literacy. It takes the daunting aspect of learning away from the equation for struggling readers, instead it presents learning as a fun and interactive game. In addition, using digital forms of Literacy can adopt a Montessori approach by making learning accessible to children; especially childrens with dyslexia as it takes the daunting prospect of writing, by hand, out of the equation (Dean, 2010).
On the other hand, I have interviewed several parents who have a negative view towards digital literacies and multimodal texts becoming a dominant presence within the primary classroom. Their attitudes closely mirror that of Merchant’s (2007), he states that literacy skills should be learnt traditionally prior to the introduction of multimedia and digital literacies. However, this would suggest that teachers should still use a range of multimodal literacies within the classroom, as long as traditional methods are not abandoned (Merchant, 2007). As an English specialist, I agree with Merchant’s stance (2007), I feel that children should experience traditional ‘pen and paper’ methods in order to practice making shape and cursive font on the page. In addition, I also believe that my electronic kindle, in which I read digital novels, does not provide the same gratification of reading a book in which incorporated holding the entire artefact, turning each individual page physically. There seems to be something magical in the bound papers of a book.
Jolliffe and Waugh (2012) stipulate that using multimodal texts can benefit childrens literacy development; it allows them to access and use prior skills in a variety of circumstances. The new National Curriculum (DfE, 2013) correspond with Jolliffe and Waugh’s (2012) view; they state that ICT should be integrated within the curriculum, as opposed to direct ICT lessons. The document now states that through ICT, all key skills can be expanded and progressed to develop the whole child (DfE, 2013). Moreover, I believe that increased use of technology within the classroom is an inevitable outcome in our increasingly digital society. Technology has advanced at an alarming rate, there are endless programmes and interactive games that have been devised to develop childrens skills, knowledge and understanding in a variety of curriculum areas.
I perceive the entire ICT element of the module as a personal challenge to me. Again, as an English specialist I must confess I struggle with the complexity of ICT use within the classroom outside the standard use of Interactive Whiteboards. I have noticed, and agree to an extent, the increased use of technology in children at home. However, I believe that there should be a balance between technology and traditional methods to prevent the basic skills of English language being neglected.
Bibliography:
Dean, G. ‘Rethinking Literacy’ in Bazalgette, C. (ed) (2010) Teaching Media in Primary Classrooms London:SAGE.
Department for Education (2013) Primary National Curriculum. [Online]
Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-primary-curriculum [Accessed 17/1/2014].
Jolliffe, W. & Waugh, D. (2012). Teaching Systematic Synthetic Phonics in Primary Schools. London: SAGE.
Merchant, G. (2007) Writing the future in the digital age. Literacy 41 (3): pg.118-128
Could not agree more we need a balanced approach and whilst using technology is important, it is important as yet another tool rather than a replacement tool.
ReplyDeleteReading and writing are important , technology can help with the process but should never replace traditional methods of teaching, especially as you suggested children with additional needs
I agree with the point you make about traditional pen and paper methods becoming endangered and integrating technology into the current classroom environment is never going to be an easy task. Not only are some parents wary of it but there are plenty of teachers who see it as something to be scared of.
ReplyDeleteI put this question to you. Is this because of the technology itself and a lack of understanding how it works or a fear of how they can use it successfully to benefit teaching and learning?