Response to Chapter 6

In Chapter 6, teachers need to promote a broader conception of literacy by designing instruction. Nowadays, students have to acquire the ability to understand letters and use them. There are a variety of symbols students need to know from traditional printed symbol system to technological symbol system. Therefore, teachers have responsibility to help students understand different symbol systems. Through technology materials, it is important to help students to improve their reading comprehension and problem-solving ability. For example, in Ms. Angell case, the problem-solving programs can promote students’ motivation to read. People love to take challenge and explore new things and the computer programs can offer this kind of task for students to practice. Learning motivation is the most important factor for students to learn well. If students have strong motivation to learn, they must improve the ability significantly. Therefore, the reading comprehension and problem-solving abilities of students using software programs improved significantly more than students who were taught reading using a skills approach. We can’t compare which approach is better, but students’ motivation is the main factor to learn well.

In 21st century, students need to have the ability not only in received information from teacher but also seek the useful related information through different tools. The technologies of the school had changed from books and paper and pencil as the primary modes of communication to a multiplicity of tools. Moreover, students also have to create their own words to communicate with others. Communication today doesn’t mean face-to-face meeting, but we can communicate with each other through words, such as e-mail. In language class, teachers will give students a supposed situation for students to communicate in email to practice writing skill. For example, teacher might ask students to write a job application letter to introduce themselves and why the employer needs to hire them in e-mail. Teachers can give different samples for them to learn and compare different forms which suit to different situation. Therefore, teachers need to consider for design opportunities for students to develop the ability to understand and use a variety of symbolic system through multiple tools.