BLOG POST 9 (Module 5 Reading Week): Using Technological Mediums to Facilitate Reading

 


Historically, reading has been associated with holding a physical text, consisting of a number of pages riddled with words and phrases in a compact binding - and while there are people (like me) who absolutely love the feeling of holding a text while reading, and flipping through the pages, this is not always the case for our students. 

I can't tell you the number of times that I have seen students' faces shift dramatically when a new class novel is distributed, and either the large size of the novel, smallness of the font, or lack of pictures/images has led them to mentally 'check-out' before even reading the first page. However, with the advancement of technology, there is now a wealth of tools and mediums that can be used to change the interface of reading, making it a more enjoyable and less daunting experience for student readers. 

Providing students with the opportunity to use Kindles, eReaders, tablets, computer devices, audiobooks and so many other technological tools merges the world that many of our students live in (technology) with the content and skills that we are teaching in English class. Taking the time to demonstrate and model how technological tools can be used to facilitate reading is bound to break barriers for students that are overwhelmed at the thought of using a ruler to guide their way through a 'boring' book. 

Moreover, there are hundreds of digital platforms and applications that can be used to promote and encourage reading, along with use of different tools. A few that I came across (in my efforts to be innovative) are:

- EPIC
- CommonLit
- Google Lit Trips
- TIME for Kids
- Writable 

Using tools that give students the opportunity to electronically annotate texts, interact with texts, hear the pronunciation of words they don't understand, and visit web links related to the material are all exciting features of using digital tools that will certainly promote more independent reading for some of our learners. It's definitely important to move away from the idea that the only way to engage in reading is with a text and show our students how they can engage in innovative ways!

For more information on these digital tools, check on this article by the Institute for Multi-sensory Education: https://journal.imse.com/best-digital-tools-for-reading-development/ 



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