Annotated Bibliography #2 - Literacy Instruction with Digital & Media Technologies

Citation 

Barone, D. & Wright, T. E. (2008 , December). Literacy instruction with digital and media technologies. Reading Rockets, Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/29126/

Summary

     This article describes how Todd Wright, a fourth-grade teacher from Fernley Elementary School in Nevada, incorporates technology and new literacies into his daily literacy instruction through the eyes of one of his students. The article provides a brief background on what new literacies are and what teachers need to consider before bringing them into their classrooms. Readers are also provided with an inside look on how Wright and his principal were able to help bring digital and media technology into other classrooms in the school as well through professional support and preparation.

Critical Response

     I enjoyed this article as it gave me a clearer picture of what bringing new literacies into a classroom might look like. I enjoyed reading about what the teacher would do as well as what the student would experience during a lesson. The article provided clear points to ponder before you begin incorporating these types of technology into your classroom, such as how will you provide the resources and support. I liked how Wright and his principal provided many items through grants and Apple. This is something I will definitely be looking into in the future since my school does not have much money to spend on technology. The idea of a one-to-one classroom sounds like an unreachable goal for our small school! I was also intrigued by the fear of how students would perform on traditional assessments. I have heard this argument before, but with many tests, like the ISTEP+, becoming an online assessment, this argument seems mute and the case for the need to teach new literacies even more valid. The only question I have is how does Wright and other teachers trying to implement these types of activities within their classrooms ensure that all students are messaging and staying on topic and not just passing virtual notes that are distracting them from the lesson. I wonder if this is a behavior problem that would need to be dealt with.