Vocabulary development is a foundation for literacy development. The difficulties struggling readers experience with literacy is related to a variety of skill - related issues such as phonology, syntax, morphology and semantics. Even striving readers have difficulty with text because they might not have fully mastered the necessary skills associated with reading. Many readers become frustrated at not being able to make relevant connections to new ideas while reading because they also lack the necessary cognitive and meta-cognitive skills. Strategies aimed at developing a wide vocabulary are essential in order for students to comprehend what they hear and read. While many traditional strategies are available for instruction in developing vocabulary, the integration of (ITC) to support this process must not be underestimated. However, traditional literacies are insufficient if as teachers we intend to use the technology to support vocabulary development. The new literacies require new skills for using the internet an integral aspect of ICT. Students must develop skills to navigate the internet in which there about 17 billion web sites; must now interpret icons and graphic displays; sort information and been able to use the Web 2.0 technology. How then do we prepare students to use this technology?
The questions arising here are quite pertinent. I am inclined to believe that as educators, trying to incorporate technology, especially Web 2.0 technology, we have to supply our students with the necessary skills for them to navigate their way, to successful web interaction.
ReplyDeleteHowever, have you ever noticed how the youth of today seem readily equipped with certain skills? Cell phones, video games, computers, you name it, they can use it.
Now of course there are the exceptions. But generally speaking most young people are very ‘techno-savvy’. It has a lot to do with the fact that this generation has been totally immersed in technology all their lives. It’s as if, they have an innate sense of technology.
This I believe is what we, as educators must tap into.
They are already interested!
We just have to finding novel ways to develop these skills and integrate everything into the curriculum, thus, using technology to our advantage, as well as theirs.
Hi Peter,
ReplyDeleteLike Siobhan said,I too think that the young people today are largely well equipped and prepared to use the technology and it is probably beause it is seldom used effectively in classrooms that we lose our students. Maybe, it is that the teachers are yet unsure how to efffectivelly integrate the technology with pedagogy and content knowledge. However, I think it is imperative that educators come on board with the technology in order to equip students with the "real" tools to deal with real problems in today's world.