Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed what teachers are required to know about how to manage their classrooms, especially in regard to integrating technology into literacy instruction. Reflecting on more than a year of learning amidst the pandemic, this qualitative case study gathered in-depth reflections through open-ended surveys from 21 elementary teachers across 14 states in the United States. As part of a larger study understanding before, during, and post-pandemic teacher uses of technology in literacy, questions from the survey addressed in this book chapter include: (1) thinking beyond the pandemic, what do you predict about how the pandemic may impact your use of technology when planning literacy instruction? Reflect on: What worked? What challenges have you faced? What lessons have you learned? (2) Beyond the pandemic, what is your greatest concern about using technology to support students’ literacy development? (3) Beyond the pandemic, what are you hopeful for about using technology to support students’ literacy development? (4) In what ways might the pandemic impact how new teachers need to be trained to plan literacy instruction? Findings reveal pandemic-induced changes to teacher and student uses of technology, to detail teaching successes, teaching challenges and concerns, and new pedagogical strategies. Implications apply to education stakeholders, with relevant suggestions aimed at app developers and digital designers, teachers, and teacher educators.
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Acknowledgments
Without the support of Maria Svennson, University of North Texas PhD student, this project would not have been possible. Maria worked enthusiastically as my research assistant, where she helped in monumental ways to recruit participants and support with analyzing the large dataset. Thank you, Maria.
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Eutsler, L. (2023). Influence of Pandemic-Induced Technology Use on Literacy Instruction. In: Cockerham, D., Kaplan-Rakowski, R., Foshay, W., Spector, M.J. (eds) Reimagining Education: Studies and Stories for Effective Learning in an Evolving Digital Environment. Educational Communications and Technology: Issues and Innovations. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25102-3_10
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