Digikids

Ladbrook, J. (2008). Teachers of the digikids: Do they navigate the divide? Australian Journal of Language Arts and Literacy, 32, 69-82.

From this article I learned a great deal about the connection between literacy and technology in Australian schools. It was interesting to read that the concerns being brought up by American educators are also present internationally as well. Ladbroock begins by sharing some of the latest research that describes the importance of designing reading curriculum using instruments that students find engaging and valuable outside of school. In their home environments, children frequently use computers and other types of media, but they are less likely to see these tools being utilized by teachers in their classrooms. Ladbrook argues that this is a fact that damages the academic achievements of children. I think the author brings up a very good point about incorporating student interest and experience into the reading curriculum. As we have discussed throughout this course, technology is considered a motivating and effective tool for educational purposes, and teachers should not hesitate to incorporate it into their lessons.

In order to learn more about the place that technology has in schools, Ladbrook distributed forty-one questionnaires to English teachers from various districts around the country. The researcher asked the participants of the study to describe their use of different reading materials. Most commonly teachers used novels, short fiction, poetry, and film to convey information to students in the reading classroom. Less than a quarter of the teachers admitted to using websites to complete this task, however, and only two and a half percent of teachers used hypertext, blogs, or wikis. Ladbrook explains this low percentage by arguing that teachers often do not understand how to use different media outlets or they do not think they are necessary for advanced learning.

From the article it appears that teachers in Australia and New Zealand need training in school technology in order to see an increased use of media in the reading classroom. With proper professional development opportunities, teachers may begin to change their attitude about advancements in technology. I think it is best to continue to do research on the matter and take the information into the school to educate faculty about the positive results.