The era of teaching students how to read purely through paperbacks and worksheets is fading as a variety of different devices, software and Internet games focused on literacy are flourishing in the modern digital world. However, many students are still left behind by a lack of access to the latest technology, leaving them less prepared to navigate a collegiate and professional world dominated by computer screens and tablets.
As part of the William Paterson University (WP) online Master of Education (MEd) in Literacy with a concentration in Reading Specialist program, educators learn advanced teaching strategies that improve students’ reading levels while also introducing them to the tools necessary to succeed upon graduation.
Student Literacy Levels in a Digital Age
Data from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) focused on the mathematics and science literacy of 15-year-old students every three years. Recent results showed that only 9% of students worldwide had a high enough reading proficiency level to distinguish facts from opinions and understand cues pertaining to the content or source of information.
These results are especially concerning in a digital age where misinformation spreads rapidly through social media and search engine results, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The group warns that a student’s ability to define truth from falsehood has not caught up with their access to smartphones and other technology.
Even if students technically have access to computers and the Internet during school hours, that doesn’t mean it’s being used effectively, according to Reading Rockets. The outlet reports that students’ school use of computers is 12 minutes per week. Additionally, students from impoverished backgrounds have much less access to computers — and must share fewer devices with more students — than their more affluent counterparts.
Luckily, more educational institutions are recognizing the value of introducing students to technology — and online literacy tools — from their earliest days in the classroom. Educators are increasingly following the principles outlined by the National Council of Teachers of English. Its position statement notes that students must be able to explore and engage critically with a wide variety of texts and tools and build an understanding of different cultures through their interactions with those texts. If done properly, the council argues, students become active and successful participants in modern society.
Adapting Education to 21st Century Needs
As Internet access and laptop use have spread across school systems, educators are finding simple ways to integrate digital technology into the classroom, according to Reading Rockets. This can range from allowing students to contribute to thoughtful online discussions on a class website to introducing a broad variety of media in class texts to giving students a chance to reflect on how technology is shaping their educational experience.
Educators are also gaining a greater understanding of how digital reading differs from print reading, according to Edutopia. When reading on screens, eyes don’t always move left-to-right as they would on a printed page. Educators have begun using programs that lay out text in a F pattern to match how students take in text on a screen — moving left to right for the first few lines of text and then scanning vertically to search for the most interesting information. Web designers can also use a Z pattern for passages with less text.
These web design techniques can create an easier reading experience for easily distracted students, helping them comprehend and reflect upon the information in front of them. Educators should also consider addressing how students often skim and multitask while reading on screens. To encourage focus, teachers can set timers for focused reading time, set specific comprehension goals or elements of the story to look out for, and encourage students to read out loud to process information.
Learn Modern Teaching Techniques With William Paterson University
WP’s online MEd in Literacy with a concentration in Reading Specialist program includes coursework that tackles these challenges head-on. The Adolescent & Adult Literacy & Curriculum Design course focuses on creating a new definition of adolescent and adult literacy by integrating current literary research, theory, curriculum design and teaching practices using print media and multimedia. In addition to learning about the digital divide, the politics of literacy and plagiarism, prospective reading specialists in this program master the top approaches for selecting appropriate materials and developing lifelong habits among their students.
Through WP’s online MEd in Literacy with a concentration in Reading Specialist program, educators leave with the latest strategies and technology to effectively educate the next generation of readers as they enter an evolving digital landscape.
Learn more about William Paterson University’s online Master of Education in Literacy with a concentration in Reading Specialist program.
