Prospectus

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Teaching and learning literacy and language through digital media

Course
2016-2017

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 all 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, digestible and usable for young readers but also, the other side of the coin, which new problems with reading might emerge and how to prevent/solve those. During the course we will highlight important theoretical perspectives like multimedia learning (Rich 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 and invite experts for presentations about those topics.

Course objectives

  1. Reflection on consequences of the ever-changing realm of digital media in children’s environment for language and literacy development
    1. Familiarize with new text formats and reflect on how those affect learn-to-read
    2. Familarize with theories of multimedia learning, multitasking, electronic tutoring and adaptivity of text/programs
    3. Differential susceptibility for computer programs
    4. Important tools resulting from digitization like adaptive platforms for digitized texts (KB, Zwijsen)

Timetable

Mode of instruction

Studying key research articles/chapters in preparation of meetings during which an expert presents his/her view. Students present a Pecha Kucha about the literature in which they briefly present the content to the point in a creative way. Duration does not exceed 6 minutes and 40 seconds. In all there are 7 meetings.

Assessment method

Preparing and presenting a Pecha Kucha for two meetings assessed by teacher and peers

An essay about one of the topics related to the course

Blackboard

During this course Blackboard will be used.

Reading list

L. Guernsey & M. H. Levine (2015). Tap, click, read. Growing readers in a world of screens. Jossey-Bass.

Key research articles

Registration

Please note that separate uSis registration is mandatory for lectures, seminars, exams and re-exams. Student who do not register, cannot attend courses or take exams.

Courses - Registration for the lectures of the course is possible as of 100 calendar days through 10 calendar days before the first lecture at the latest;

  • Registration for the seminars of the course is possible as of 100 calendar days through 10 calendar days before the first seminar at the latest.

Exams

Student must register for each exam through uSis. This is only possible until 10 calendar days before the exam. More information on exam registration

Contact information Co-ordinator of this course is dr. M.T. Sikkema- de Jong