Crossroads of Literacy: Technology and Education
by
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The last few years I’ve been a docent (volunteer exhibit guide of sorts) at the local Experimental Aircraft Association Museum in Oshkosh. For favorites, I chose the Voyager and Johnson Wax Sikorsky Replica Exhibits. The amphibian plane of the 30’s holds about a dozen passengers for a simulated flight of ten minutes. They travel to the wax palms of Brazil and are met by natives. Perhaps a kindergarten jet role-playing experience would serve as an introduction to such a museum visit. A literacy-oriented play could be planned composed of 5 ½ year olds pretending to fly to Disneyland. Literacy could be embedded in some event or planned experience for the child! This might be the necessary closure or cognitive challenge that they could all relate to and serve as the thread, glue, whatever to unite life long goals. This approach might be more balanced with a reading project involving phonics, listening, writing, speaking, literature, and centered around some noteworthy event. The students would be motivated to learn more about reading because it involves play; the play factor being key to the whole role-playing reading situation.
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About the Book
A few years ago, the writer of the series of five education-technical articles edited several reading-literacy newsletters. This literacy project was an outcome of his talking about 40 graduate credits in reading education at the local university. Splicing photos with clippings on current events, articles on reading and listening, he attempted to make sense out of nonsense. Larry also became aware of how technology improved the classroom milieu where he subbed at the secondary level. He experienced this more positive attitude toward school while being in the 'trenches' as a substitute teacher. Just as air travel sometimes replaces highways, the computer my replace many reference books. Internet use, therefore can help wipe out cultural schizophrenia in America. Presently, the author serves as a volunteer driver for Winnebago County for veterans of that area...to clinics and hospitals served by the VA. He has finally accumulated more than a 1,000 hours of community service this May of 2009 and may be recognized for his efforts at the Appleton VFW by DAV (Disabled American Veterans) representatives from the Northeast and East Central areas.
About the Author
The author matriculated at the at the University of Wisconson-Oshkosh in the late 50's. This was about twenty years before the computer-information age blossomed! The internet was a business-educative product evolving from TV and the electric typewriter. After Larry taught two years of secondary courses in Southern California, he accepted an educational position with the government overseas. As a teacher counselor in Europe, he was also able to travel at discount rates since he was living overseas. The writer has recently been active in the PDK Professional Educational Fraternity (East-Coast Chapter) and the Wisconsin State Reading Association.