Literacy-Technology Links

1. Literacy-Technology Links By Stephen Jamieson, South Shore Regional School Board Literacy Mentor Aug. 2004

2. The role of information literacy and the research process …… ~ requires a systematic approach for students to experience success with defining, investigating and developing solutions to problems and questions. (ELA 4-6 p.178)

3. To conduct research and solve information related problems students must develop …… • Creative, critical and cognitive skills • Communication processes such as reading, viewing, writing, representing, speaking and listening in a range of media and multimedia formats • Technological competencies (ELA 4-6 p.178)

4. The research process involves… • Planning • Gathering information • Interacting with information • Organizing information • Creating new information (synthesizing) • Sharing and presenting information (ELA 4-6 p.179)

5. How do we help our students develop the strategies required to conduct research and construct meaning? • Explicit instruction and modeling of the Big 6 comprehension strategies • Explicit instruction and modeling of various electronic media

6. Making Connections • I use what I know to understand what I read • Text to Self Text to Text Text to World How does this strategy assist the learner in successfully constructing meaning?

7. Questioning • Thinking and wondering • Every answer should lead to a new question • Asking questions before, during and after I read AND looking for answers How does this strategy assist the learner in successfully constructing meaning?

8. Visualizing • Creating pictures in your mind as you read How does this strategy assist the learner in successfully constructing meaning?

9. Inferring • Drawing conclusions, making predictions and reflecting on our reading • Cause and Effect • Maybe … I think … It could be … I’m guessing … How does this strategy assist the learner in successfully constructing meaning?

10. Determining Importance • Reading for specific information • Relying on conventions of print eg. Bold print, table of contents, index • Skim and scan strategies / keywords How does this strategy assist the learner in successfully constructing meaning?

11. Synthesizing • Combining what I know with new information to understand the text • Retelling information in own words • Comparing and contrasting topics based on research How does this strategy assist the learner in successfully constructing meaning?

12. Navigating Text Features of the Technological Genre • As in all text genre it is important to… • set a purpose for it’s use • guide readers through the text features • Discuss any unfamiliar or important features pertinent to that genre

13. Every literary genre or form has certain features that define it. • We explicitly teach and model the use of these features so our students can construct meaning

14. When navigating a web site or CD Rom students should note… • links or buttons to move to other sections of a web site • Web Page/CD Rom are linked in a linear and non-linear arrangement • Web Page/CD Rom site index and/or table of contents • headings and sub-headings • text links to other pages • animations, pictures, sounds, video

15. Don’t forget…… • Many complex sites have a search locator to help the user locate specific information • Graphic organizers such as diagrams, maps, tables, illustrations, photos with accompanying captions and labels tell the reader so much • Look for cue words, bold print, colour print, italics,and bullets to locate key concepts and ideas

16. Also….. • What is important to read and what to ignore • Banner ads • Pop up ads • Reliability and validity of information is often indicated by type of site eg) .gov, .org, .com, .edu

17. Remember…… • Delivering effective instruction always involves modeling in one form or another. • “When we take the time to show kids how, we reap big rewards” Strategies That Work , Harvey & Goudvis. P.31