What great potential using ebooks in teaching struggling readers and writers! When we used PowerPoint to create my very first ebook I was excited. So just imagine having students especially those who are struggling readers interact with these ebooks. It has so much new meaning for me as I see how it can be used in the development of teaching phonics to my six month old son.
To think that even our non fluent readers can use this in reading and it is all just at the click of a button. Students can even be taught to create their own ebooks using PowerPoint as many of our struggling reading students interface with computers and other computerised tools such as Playstation, Wii, Nintendo and not forgetting cellular phones. How many of us have had students who are not fluent readers help us in terms of understanding some technical stuff? We have to read the manual sometimes twice or more and all they do is to look at the gadget at hand and already they know how to operate it and even troubleshoot.
Is this because of the use of images? Or is is the use of sound? Whatever it is we can adopt some elements of this interface to create interactive books which can assist us in teaching reading to struggling students. I think there is even potential for students who are differently abled. The Alphabet Book will be one of many ebooks I'll be creating as in reflecting on my teaching strategies I could understand why students become disengaged in the classroom.
Hi Maxine,
ReplyDeleteMy sentiments exactly, If we were so excited to use power point to create a simple e book, think how our student will feel. The excitement of doing something new in the classroom. The excitement of creating something that the teacher may be able to use for her lower level students.
That is one way to encourage students to use the tool, they will learn concepts and ideas without realizing it, and if the teacher told them that she will choose the best book to teach her lower grade students just think how hard they will work so that their work will be chosen.
We need to do what we can to encourage learning and participation in the classroom and I think that this is the tool to do exactly that.