Use of E-reader Technology in Middle Level Reading

"Technology can be more than a tool for drilling students on skills; it can be a tool for acquiring the vocabulary and background knowledge essential to becoming a skilled reader (Biancarosa, Griffiths, 2012, p. 139 )."

Article: "Technology Tools to Support Reading in the Digital Age"
By: Gina Biancarosa and Gina G. Griffiths

Article layout

• Focused on the use of E-Readers and gave applications for their use in different areas
• Each slide is an area E-Readers are being used and the bullets are advantages of its use in that area

Definition of E-Reading technology:
hardware and software to display and interact with digital text

Hardware Examples: e-readers, tablets, smartphones, laptops, desktop computers

Software Examples: apps and programs where readers can "interact with the text locally or over a network" (Biancarosa, Griffiths, 2012, p. 143).

Compensation & instruction

• text to speech options enables access to those with visual impairments
• synchronized highlighting to show which words are being read
• verbal explanations of pictures/tables
• computer guided reading tutor

Supporting strategic readers

• self paced tutorials - fast forward, rewind based on skill
• computer assisted strategy teaching
• Avatars that respond immediately
• All of the above provide just in time individualized support

Building knowledge/reading to learn

• more flexibility regarding content
• ancillary materials (videos, original documents) more easily available
• interactive graphics
• online learning communities

Literary assessment

• Computer Adaptive Testing

Caution

Things to be cautious of

• Although there are many smaller research studies that have shown the effectiveness of E-Reader technology in the classroom there have not been a sufficient number of large scale research studies to validate it.

Challenges to E-reading technology use

• need professional development for teachers
• secure data systems
• adequate technology and staff to maintain it

Biancarosa, G., & Griffiths, G. G. (2012). Technology Tools to Support Reading in the Digital Age. The Future of Children, 22(2), 139-160. doi:10.1353/foc.2012.0014