Reading Reflections from Chapter 4

Reading chapter four in Literacy, Technology, and Diversity brought up many mixed feelings for me. The book mentioned the fact that students in affluent schools have more access to technology than students in lower income schools. The point was raised that teachers in the low income schools are focused primarily on teaching to the test. I agree with this because these are the schools that are having difficulty meeting AYP. Why are we having difficulty meeting AYP? Could it be because the teachers in these districts are not provided with the resources and intervention necessary to help these students reach success? It leads back to the statement that "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer." This statement is true for education. The students in more affluent schools keep excelling due to the environment that they are in and the low income students get the shaft. This is unfair, but unfortunately the way the education system is ran.

The book also mentioned that there really is no evidence or research that proves that technology helps improve reading scores. I think that schools are looking for a "quick fix" due to the pressures of meeting AYP and No Child Left Behind. Technology is not our answer. Yes, we need to incorporate technology into our instruction and prepare our students for the future. But, technology alone cannot make our students successful. Teachers need to be knowledgeable on the best teaching practices and have a vision for how their students should be taught. The teacher needs to understand the needs of each of their students and be able to devise a plan of teaching that meets all of those needs. Simply implementing technology without thinking through how it is going to challenge students' thinking will not encourage learning. Technology instruction needs to be carefully planned and thought out just like any other form of instruction that we utilize in the classroom. I do agree with the book that technology can be a source of motivation for children. Students are bored in the classroom these days because we live in a society that is stimulating to all of the senses. Students need to be taught in the manner in which they live. Therefore, using technology as a way to motivate and actively engage students is a great idea!