Literacy and Vocabulary Expansion Using Technology

Everyday there are new technologies coming out to help teachers like us teach our students in new and innovative ways. Today we are able to expand our students' literacy and vocabulary using various technologies. With today's technology we are able to provide our students with resources and technologies for them to learn in many different ways so that we may reach all our students, no matter what their learning style. "New technologies are an important ingredient in meeting the challenge of individual differences. Where print technologies present many barriers to students because of their essential 'one size fits all' quality, digital media can have just the opposite effect" (Learning Ally).

Vocabulary expansion through the use of technology is extremely useful when dealing with English Language Learners as well as young learners in the primary grades. The website below creates digital flashcards. Online flashcards have an advantage over traditional paper flashcards. These digital flashcards are able to have not only the traditional pictures that are common when using them but you are also able to add sounds and animations. The sound feature is extremely important for an ELL(English Language Learner) student because not only are they learning a new word and what it means but they are also given the opportunity to hear how the word is pronounced.  These digital flashcards open up a whole new avenue for students who are both ELL and non-ELL students.

http://www.wordchamp.com

Nearly every classroom in our elementary schools is equipped with listening centers. Why? Because having a listening center where students may read a book along with a recording or simply hear it read to them and listen to the way the words are pronounced helps them build both their literacy and vocabulary skills.

Vocab Videos uses hilarious professionally produced short videos to illustrate the meanings of 500 essential vocabulary words. The platform is a highly effective system for learning words that appear on tests like the ISEE, SAT, ACT, GRE & TOEFL. Each video includes a representation of the meaning of a word in a way you can relate to and understand. Vocab Videos will expand your vocabulary--and you'll have fun along the way.

The YouTube video below shows some of the progress and advantages of having IPads in a preschool classroom. If you can't see the video click the link here http://youtu.be/Krf52MtO5wE

Other Useful Links:

Today we can do many different innovative things with technology including taking our students on virtual field trips! Check out the following link to learn more about exposing your students to new things through a virtual field trip! http://ged578.pbworks.com/w/page/52711163/Virtual%20Field%20Trips

Whenever using the web it's important to practice safe security and not give out any personal information. To learn about being cyber safe click the following link http://ged578.pbworks.com/w/page/52716154/Cyber%20Security%20Education

References

Cyber Security Education. pbworks. Retrieved April 21, 2012 from http://ged578.pbworks.com/w/page/52716154/Cyber%20Security%20Education.

Learning through Listening. Retrieved April 20, 2012 from http://www.learningthroughlistening.org/Listening-A-Powerful-Skill/The-Science-of-Listening/Learning-Through-Listening-in-the-Digital-World/How-New-Technologies-are-Changing-What-a-Literacy-Program-Should-Be/148/ .

Learning Vocabulary with Technology. Retrieved April 20, 2012 from http://www.qnrf.org/about_qnrf/success_stories/detail.php?ID=1439 .

Summer Bridges Program- iPad Success in Preschool Education. YouTube. Retrieved April 20, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krf52MtO5wE.

Virtual Field Trips. pbworks. Retrieved April 21, 2012 from http://ged578.pbworks.com/w/page/52711163/Virtual%20Field%20Trips.