As technology evolves, it shapes how we learn and process information. Browsing for new titles online, engaging with interactive reading platforms, and utilizing accessibility tools are just some of the many ways reading and technology are connected.
Technology can be a fun tool, but it can also add an extra edge to reading instruction. Staying up-to-date on the latest educational technology enhances learning and helps young readers improve their reading comprehension in a connected and meaningful way. Understanding how to use these tools and effectively integrate technology into reading instruction is key for readers at all levels.
How to Integrate Technology Into Reading Instruction
Technology will continue to evolve whether we’re keeping pace or not. If educators don’t embrace the latest digital tools, it’s easy to fall behind. Children interact with technology all day, every day, and educators should not exclude reading instruction.
Beanstack utilizes reading technology and interactive features to keep readers engaged and motivated at every level. To use technology tools for effective reading instruction, educators must explore how technology is harnessed for individualized learning.
Leverage Blended Learning to Increase Reading Motivation
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to comprehension strategies. To meet diverse learning needs, educators must include a variety of learning models in instruction. Blended learning utilizes a combination of instructional strategies so that effective learning can occur for struggling and proficient readers.
The blended station rotation model involves a series of stations with different learning activities students cycle through. This model allows teachers to customize instruction to meet their students’ needs and simultaneously use different forms of reading instruction. Blended learning allows students to engage in activities that appeal to them and reduces the chance of boredom as they quickly rotate through stations.
Beanstack is an ideal fit for blended learning models, allowing students to track all their reading as they rotate through stations and engage with various types of reading technology. One station may incorporate video to engage readers who are visual learners. Another station can include audiobooks, which are a great fit for students who are struggling readers or need to incorporate physical activity into reading. This type of learning model also has room for independent reading, where proficient readers can participate alongside their peers of different levels.
Run Digital Reading Challenges
Motivation is crucial to keep students engaged in reading instruction. With so many distractions and incentives to look elsewhere, it’s important to incentivize readers to stay engaged in reading. That’s where technology can help.
Digital reading challenges are a great way Beanstack motivates students of all ages to read. Reading challenges build community and encourage friendly competition among peers. Students will be motivated to participate and hold each other accountable as they work toward a shared reading goal. Reading challenges are an equitable way for students of all reading levels to work together at the school and district-wide levels to achieve a goal.
Organizing a reading challenge helps foster a culture of reading in your community. Beanstack’s platform is accessible anytime and anywhere, so students can participate in challenges even when school is out. Encourage reading after school, on weekends, between activities, or whenever it fits their schedule best.
Utilize Digital Books With Embedded Tools
As reading technology evolves, digital books with embedded tools are a great way for readers to interact with what they’re reading for a personalized learning experience. These digital tools can also make reading more accessible to those with individualized learning needs and learning disabilities.
Digital books include embedded tools that aid reading comprehension and self-guided learning, like dictionaries and text-to-speech features. Independent readers can research the meaning of a word in a text and expand their knowledge of a subject. This builds interest and encourages a lifelong relationship with reading.
Beanstack encourages using engaging and accessible content, with features like a visual timer and a reading tracker to excite students about their learning. These are also great tools in the classroom, as students can learn new vocabulary and expand their knowledge beyond the book’s content. Educators can seamlessly integrate these tools into existing lessons and reading instruction.
Use Technology to Track and Improve Reading Habits
One of the most popular elements of Beanstack’s platform is our gamification features. Readers participate in competitions and challenges where they earn badges and streaks, helping them to stay motivated and build healthy reading habits. In addition to helping students by tracking their reading, Beanstack allows educators and parents to improve reading habits based on collected data.
Beanstack’s robust reports provide educators with real-time data at the student, class, and grade levels. These tools provide powerful insight that supports teachers in better understanding their students’ unique needs and interests. Lexile Insights provides insights into books the kids self-select, helping librarians and teachers make recommendations based on interest and Lexile level.
Effectively utilizing these features contributes to a positive classroom environment where kids are excited to learn. Reading books of personal interest fosters a lifelong love of reading.
Boost Comprehension With Collaborative Annotation Tools
Technology can uniquely boost comprehension in reading instruction in ways that traditional classroom instruction can’t. Collaborative annotation tools allow students to collaborate and mark up reading materials in real time as a class. Students can annotate and discuss texts through virtual learning, no matter where they are.
When students annotate together, they can quickly ask questions that lead to group discussions, enhancing participation and encouraging deeper learning beyond the text. As classmates make notes in the margins and ask about word definitions, students may discover answers to questions they didn’t even know they had. This approach transforms reading into an interactive activity, allowing for a deeper dive into the material.
Connect All Reading Resources
Compiling all your resources and instructional materials in one place is a significant aspect of integrating technology into reading instruction. Connecting your reading resources helps to keep participants organized and makes resources more easily accessible.
Teachers and librarians can connect all their reading resources with Beanstack and encourage children to engage with ebook collections, reading resources, and fun activities. Making resources easy to find reduces time spent searching for titles to match the needs of each student. This also allows readers to self-select titles that interest them. Using the ISBN scanner on the Beanstack app makes it easy to add new titles with just a few clicks!
Implement Assistive Learning Tools for Students With Disabilities
Perhaps one of the most significant technological innovations is using digital tools to make reading inclusive and accessible to all readers. Beanstack’s features that focus on equity and accessibility provide the right tools so that readers of any level and ability can participate.
Text-to-Speech Reader
A text-to-speech reader is a tool that reads websites and other digital materials aloud. This is a great tool for students with reading difficulties like dyslexia or who are vision impaired. Apps and devices are also available that allow users to scan printed text and hear it read aloud. These technology tools allow students to participate in reading alongside their peers who are reading from books in the traditional sense.
Audiobooks
Similarly, students can listen to entire books as audiobooks. Beanstack counts all forms of reading in the reading tracker so that readers of any level can participate. Audiobooks are also a great option for students who struggle with sitting still for long periods of time. Listening to a book allows students to incorporate some light movement or physical activity into reading time.
Visual Timers
Incorporating timers into reading instruction lets students count down how much time they have to complete a task, such as reading. This approach provides structure and can help readers who have executive functioning challenges. Timers are a valuable tool for students who struggle to stay focused for long periods, as students can set time limits to read in short intervals with frequent breaks. Keeping track of time can help students stay motivated as they work toward a reading goal.
Schedule a Demo Today
If you’re ready to leverage technology to supplement reading instruction, contact Beanstack today. Schedule a demo or request a quote to bring Beanstack to your reading community.