Technology

Technology and Teaching Children to Read

by Diana Sherman, Glenn Kleiman, and Kirsten Peterson

Sherman, D., Kleiman, G., and Peterson, K. (2004). Technology and Teaching Children to Read. Education Development Center.

Topics Covered: Best Teaching Practices / Professional Development; Literacy and Reading / Writing Instruction; Technology;

Tags: Comprehension; Fluency; Motivation; Phonics; Phonological Awareness; Reading; Vocabulary;

Target Population: Preschool, Elementary, Middle, High School

Research Questions the Report Poses: What does recent research say about the benefits of technology in helping students learn to read?

Summary: Reading specialists, technology specialists, and classroom teachers: Look here for ways to effectively implement technology within K-6 reading programs. Research-based guidelines from the National Reading Panel report (NRP, 2000) frame the discussion about the potential uses of multimedia digital technology to enhance reading instruction.

Findings:

• Available research points to many possibilities for technology to enhance reading instruction
• Decisions about the effective uses of technology need to be based on an understanding of the school or district reading program
• Understanding of the potential uses of technology and a careful analysis of the alignment between the needs of the reading program and the capabilities brought by the technology is vital
• Technology can help make a good reading program more effective, but technology's value depends upon the quality of the overall reading program and the thoughtful and careful implementation of technology

Policy Recommendations:
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