Literacy and the Technological Age

By Corey Lynn, Amy Miller, and Sara Torley

Text Message ChallengeRaise yr h& f u cn transl8 w@ dis sEz.

welcom 2 d 21st Century, whr kdz as yung as 5 y/o gt cell fons; whr lib b%k circulation coninues 2 plummet yl audiovisual r8s 2x; whr tx spk gets mor &mre prevalent

http://www.lingo2word.com/translate.php

To find out if text messaging habits positively affected English literacy of pre-teens, adolescents, and young adults.

678 subjects were tapped, ages 11-25 and their text-messaging habits surveyed

A writing task was given and responses were graded against a 6-point rubric based on comprehension, vocabulary, mechanics, grammar, etc.

A Study In California2008

The TaskThe Task

Examples of Expressive Examples of Expressive WritingWriting66 - Dear X, I recently purchased a book from one of your - Dear X, I recently purchased a book from one of your

stores and was disturbed by the poor quality of service and stores and was disturbed by the poor quality of service and lack of customer service skills from your employees. I lack of customer service skills from your employees. I expected your employees to be helpful and courteous but expected your employees to be helpful and courteous but found them to possess neither qualities. When asked if they found them to possess neither qualities. When asked if they could suggest a gift for a friend, I receive no suggestions could suggest a gift for a friend, I receive no suggestions whatsoever. Not only did I have to search for a gift myself, whatsoever. Not only did I have to search for a gift myself, when I was strapped for time, I thought I almost had to scan when I was strapped for time, I thought I almost had to scan the item and leave payment myself because no one was manning the item and leave payment myself because no one was manning the register at the front. It was a good 10 minutes before a the register at the front. It was a good 10 minutes before a sales associate asked me if I needed any help! I am sales associate asked me if I needed any help! I am disappointed to have had this experience since it was my disappointed to have had this experience since it was my first time shopping in this particular store, when I first time shopping in this particular store, when I normally patron your competitor's locations. I do not normally patron your competitor's locations. I do not want any apology letter nor any gift certificates. I simply want any apology letter nor any gift certificates. I simply want you to be aware of the treatment your customers are want you to be aware of the treatment your customers are undoubtedly receiving at this location and hope that you undoubtedly receiving at this location and hope that you will correct this so patrons will receive excellent service will correct this so patrons will receive excellent service in the future. Unfortunately, I will not be one of those in the future. Unfortunately, I will not be one of those patrons. Sincerely, Xpatrons. Sincerely, X

Examples of Expressive Examples of Expressive WritingWriting33- dear the manger of snickers, i - dear the manger of snickers, i bought one of your bars and i it had a bought one of your bars and i it had a toenail in it i was mad and i nearly toenail in it i was mad and i nearly choked on it i would like you to fire the choked on it i would like you to fire the person how sold me this and i would like person how sold me this and i would like to fill out a complant form and how your to fill out a complant form and how your coustermer services suck because i had to coustermer services suck because i had to ask for you and one of the people on the ask for you and one of the people on the phone could of answered my questionphone could of answered my question

11- your video game sucks i want my money - your video game sucks i want my money backback

1.8

2

2.2

2.4

2.6

2 3 4 5/6

2.7

2.9

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

2 3 4 5/6

ACRONYMS

NO APOSTROPHES SHORTENED WORDS

3.1

3.3

3.5

3.7

3.9

2 3 4 5/6

MORE USE OF THESE TYPES OF TEXTISMS WAS RELATED TO LOWER WRITING SCORES

CONCLUSION: SOME TEXTISMS NEGATIVELY AFFECT LITERACY (p<.05)

The ResultsThe Results

Is literacy as we know it at risk?

Literacy/TechnologyTrends of Today Critical thinking and analytical skills have waned with the greater presence of technology (Science Daily, 2009)

“Our culture values the immediacy of communication over the value of expression.” (canada.com, 2008)

Reading from a screen results in quicker fatigue and stunted comprehension, according to some studies (Gahala & Holum, 2001)

Literacy/TechnologyTrends of Today Just 6% of college professors in a 1,098-professor survey believe incoming freshman are “very well prepared” or “literate” enough for college (Bauerlein, 2008 p. 63) (canada.com, 2008) 20% of college freshman end up in remedial reading courses and

23% end up in remedial writing courses Fifty-five percent of those who read below a basic reading level are unemployed (Neary, 2007)

Literacy/TechnologyTrends of Today Kids as young as five years old get cell phones (Hart, Jackson, Plester, & Wood, 2009) and two-thirds of children in the USA have them (Stewart, 2008)

Youths aged six months to six years spend three times as much with onscreen media (nearly two hours per day) than they do reading or being read to (39 minutes per day) (Bauerlein, 2008)

Libraries have reported circulation from books falling 25 percent with those of audiovisuals doubling over a ten-year period (Bauerlein, 2008 p. 97)

What do kids do online?

Is there a link? Does it even matter?

Basic literacy is important for all learning. Knowing how to successfully extract and produce information via text will always be key, no matter the technology

The components of basic literacy lend themselves to exploration and practice through technology

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are needed to see this picture.

Retrieved on November 25, 2009

Phonics Waterford Early Reading Program

Sound and letter recognition Video interactive Self guided

http://www.waterfordearlylearning.org/

Early Language Learning Starfall

Multi-leveled Variety of content areas Interactive video Audio to sound out phonics and words Free to use

www.starfall.com

Starfall.com, Retrieved November 25, 2009.

Fluency 500 Most Frequently Used Words

Bilingual introduction for ELL Leveled word lists and ability grouped

Flash words in order to read out loud

http://curriculum.leeschools.net/words/words_main.htm

Vocabulary Visual Thesaurus

Helps visual learners Student determined word Helps special needs students Reaches variety of learners Store word lists

http://www.cited.org/library/site/media/Enhancing%20Content%20Area%20Reading.pdf

www.visualthesaurus.com Let’s Try It!!Retrieved on November 25, 2009.

Comprehension Yearly Progress Pro

Ongoing Assessment Monitoring Standards Based Customizable Online record keeping

Yearly Progress Pro. Retrieved on November 25, 2009. http://www2.ctb.com/products_services/ypp/index.html

Conclusion Incorporating technology into literacy instruction is a good solution to bridging the gap Lets kids work with systems they know Keeps kids engaged and excited about literacy

Gives kids practice in literacy AND technology

Allows for teacher/mentor guidance May positively affect kids’ attitudes about reading and technology in the future