Technology Talks

Posting on Behalf of Autumn Baltimore 

How does one bridge literacy through the Arts and Technology classes? Better yet, how do you motive a creative and talented group to teach literacy in their Arts and Technology classes? Easy you bribe them, then you tell them it’s easier than they think. Literacy has so many facets that one can use to incorporate into their lessons or classroom. However, many teachers outside of the Literacy Department feel that bridging literacy is difficult, and also quite boring. With this, I am here to tell you that literacy my friends is not boring and using it as a support to the content that’s being taught increases motivation for learning for the students.

The simplest way to bridge literacy is to take what you already have created and add a component of literacy to the mix. One creative way to do this is by using 21^st century skills when you are bridging literacy into Arts and Technology. For example, music teachers can have the students write a reflection of their playing test on a music blog site, or the Theater teacher could video tape her students acting and have the students observe and write a reflection that could be recorded and played back as well. Literacy does not always have to be writing. Literacy could be students in a Physical Education class reading sports illustrated online and then reading ESPN magazine in print and then have the students compare and contrast print sources verses electronic sources.  Technology teachers have a plethora of options to bridge literacy because they have access to tech tools. A technology tool such as Storybird, which is an online storybook creation tool allows students to not only use technology, but bridge literacy into their class as well.

Oftentimes, by changing or adding one aspect such as 21^st century learning skills to the lesson or unit allows teachers the opportunity to bridge literacy. Not only are the small strategies effective, but it also keeps the students engaged and motivated to learn.