Using Apps to Support Disciplinary Literacy and Science Learning. Issue 7 (27th March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Castek, Jill; Beach, Richard
• Is Part Of: Journal of adolescent & adult literacy. Volume 56:Issue 7(2013:Apr.)
• Page Start: 554
• Page End: 564
• Publication Date: 2013-03-27
• Subjects: Comprehension -- Making inferences -- Summarizing -- Content literacy -- Specific subject areas (math -- art -- ADDED ‐ science) -- Digital/media literacies -- Information and communication technologies -- Information literacy -- New literacies -- Specific media (hypertext -- Internet -- film -- music -- ADDED ‐ tablets -- apps) -- Visual literacy -- Strategies -- methods -- and materials -- Discussion strategies -- Instructional strategies -- teaching strategies -- Instructional technology -- Reading strategies -- Writing strategies -- Writing -- Writing to learn -- To learners in which of the following categories does your work apply? -- Early adolescence -- Adolescence; Reading -- Periodicals; Literacy -- Periodicals; 374.0124
• DOI: 10.1002/JAAL.180
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1081-3004

Abstract

Abstract: Apps, specialized programs used on mobile computers, can be used in innovative ways to enhance science and literacy learning. With the skilled guidance of their teachers, students can exploit app affordances for learning and acquire disciplinary literacies unique to science. This article showcases apps that help students to access information, make sense of it, and create their own products that include rich visual representations. We also describe teaching approaches that support the close reading of science texts through the use of note‐taking and annotation apps. Classroom examples that are featured illustrate that these app affordances are not simply in the apps, but rather, fostered by how the teachers exploit these affordances to achieve their own particular learning objectives. As we become more familiar with new apps as educational tools, we need to be mindful about how these tools strategically in ways that best enhance our students' own learning. Abstract : FREE author podcast