iPods are just the beginning of the technological tools available now
and in our future. Understandingly, we must help our
students/parents/children and staff adjust/adapt/embrace their futures.
When family literacy programs became formalized, the internet was in
embryonic stages-now look at the wonder of knowledge and up-to-date news
available at our fingertips.  Those early family literacy families now
have children who are in their mid-twenties-children who are teaching
their parents and their own children to use blackberries, cell phones,
iPods, DVD's, etc.  They are using technology that did not exist when
NCFL formed and the story continues.  

 

If education does nothing else, it must help folks use their problem
solving abilities to their fullest, to prioritize, and to communicate.
Personally, I think the best thing about the new technology is the
increased eased for communication with family members.  Even so, my
brother's family is isolated from us all right now as all their power
lines, phone lines,  cell towers and roads are non functional due to our
NW hurricane last weekend.  So while snail mail can get through,
eventually, the technological magic is blocked by forces of nature at
least for a while.  

 

Enjoy.  Make time for your loved ones. Use technology, don't let
technology use you.  Happy Holiday!

Va

 

________________________________

From: familyliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:familyliteracy-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Gail Price
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 5:05 AM
To: The Family Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [FamilyLiteracy 866] Interesting Uses of iPods

 

Are iPods in your future? Take a look at the following article which
appeared in last week's Pen Weekly NewsBlast. Click on the link to read
the entire article and learn more about the use of iPods in classrooms.

 

 

IN SOME SCHOOLS, iPODS ARE REQUIRED LISTENING 
Schools in New Jersey are buying into a new program that gives bilingual
students with limited English ability iPods, reports Winnie Hu in the
New York Times. The hope is that by singing along to popular English
songs, students will sharpen their vocabulary and grammar skills. The
program has already had an effect on Stephanie Rojas, who moved to New
Jersey from Puerto Rico last year, as she now prefers to sing in
English. Incorporating the devices into instruction began when Grace
Poli, a media specialist, approached the district three years ago about
buying 23 iPods for an after-school bilingual program. She then compiled
an eclectic mix of music, typed out the lyrics and deleted the nouns --
and in turn the verbs and adjectives -- to force the students to fill in
the missing words and thereby learn their meanings. Poli said her
Spanish-speaking students were able to move out of bilingual classes
after just a year of using the digital devices, compared to an average
of four to six years for most bilingual students. After viewing the
successes, the district plans to try iPods with students who have
learning disabilities and behavioral problems. In addition, one of New
Jersey's poorest urban districts, Union City District, will give out 300
iPods as part of a $130,000 experiment.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/education/09ipod.html?ref=education
<http://public-education.org/080E1502001B11173214131F1E1B065C1D00150E454
64645460E404047434B430E400E434643474041440E08.aspx> 

 

Gail J. Price

Multimedia Specialist

National Center for Family Literacy

325 W. Main Street, Suite 300

Louisville, KY 40202

gprice at famlit.org

502 584-1133, ext. 112

 

 

Join us for the 17th Annual National Conference on Family Literacy!
"Literacy Grows Families and Communities"
March 30, 31, & April 1, 2008-Louisville, KY
Register online at www.famlit.org/conference

 

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