NB Language spoken is English unless only Dutch-speaking students participate
Description
The course aims at navigating, translating and advancing a new vision for literacy and becoming literate in the digital age. Illuminating great research, we aim at discussing important topics concerning language and literacy: how reading is gradually changing in function and form and how this affects readers; how children’s activities in the ever-evolving realm of digital media are changing and how this may affect children’s language and (emergent) literacy; rethinking learn-to-read in a digital age; how digitization can be used to make books/texts more accessible for young readers but also, the other side of the coin, which new problems with reading might emerge and how to prevent or solve those.
During the course we will highlight important theoretical perspectives like multimedia learning (Richard Mayer), adaptivity built in programs/apps, understanding which programs cause multitasking and how this affects learning, electronic tutoring and its effects, and differential susceptibility to qualities of computer programs. As a tour guide we will select key research articles for all topics.
NB This course is also open for Research Master students as an elective. For research master students the course will contain an extra assignment. Students need to contact the instructor after the first class to discuss the content of the extra assignment.
Course objectives
- Reflection on consequences of the ever-changing realm of digital media in children’s environment for language and literacy development.
- Familiarize with new text formats and reflect on how those affect learn-to-read.
- Familiarize with theories of multimedia learning, multitasking, electronic tutoring and adaptivity of text/programs.
- Understanding the importance to study what works for whom because one size does not fit all in education and child development. .
- Knowledge of important tools resulting from digitization like adaptive platforms for digitized texts.
- Practice critical reading of scientific literature
- Translate scientific knowledge into practice to inform parents and professionals in the field of education and child studies
Timetable
For the timetable of this course please refer to MyTimetable
Mode of instruction
Studying key research articles/chapters in preparation of (online) meetings during which we interactively discuss the literature. Students give a presentation about the literature. Students translate scientific knowledge into practice by making a knowledge clip aimed at parents and professionals in the field of Education and Child Development.
In all there are seven meetings.
Research Masterstudents write all exams and reviews in English.
Small changes are possible, see Brightspace!
Assessment method
- Presentations (need to be satisfactory)
- 6 Written practice reviews (need to be satisfactory)
- 1 Written review (individual assignment, will be graded)
- Knowledge clip (group assignment, will be graded)
Final grade: 60% graded review + 40% knowledge clip
Note. Partial results are only valid in 2021-2022
Brightspace
During this course Brightspace will be used.
Reading list
L. Guernsey & M. H. Levine (2015). Tap, click, read. Growing readers in a world of screens. Jossey-Bass.
Scientific papers (to be announced, see course description on Brightspace).
Small changes are possible (also in the reading list), see Brightspace!
Registration
Education
It is mandatory to register for each course via uSis. This applies to both the lectures and the working groups, even if they take place online. Without a valid registration in uSis you will not be able to participate in the course and you will not have access to the Brightspace module of the course.
Exams
In addition, it is also mandatory to register separately in uSis for each exam (i.e. both the first exam opportunity and, if necessary, the resit) in uSis. This also applies to partial examinations in a course. This is possible up to 10 calendar days prior to the exam. You cannot take the exam without a valid registration in uSis.
NB If the exam concerns a paper or a practical assignment, you do not need to register in uSis.
Carefully read all information about the procedures and deadlines for registering for courses and exams.
The exam of this course is a written report. Hence, you do not have to register for an exam in uSis.
Contact information
Co-ordinator of this course is dr. E.K. Swart