WICKED Project

Problem:
The problem I chose to focus my WICKED Project on was providing students with access to non-fiction materials that support struggling readers. I teach in a K-1 Library Media Center and I often have beginning readers or struggling readers that engage in various forms of research. I do purchase leveled non-fiction books to accommodate their reading levels, but technology has been a big push in our school. So I provide access to non-print sources as much as possible. However, most online non-fiction resources are much too difficult for elementary students to read and understand independently. I would like to find a program that supports our students with access to rich non-fiction sources and provides support for struggling readers.

Solution:
After reviewing many wonderful and abundant sources that support my problem I chose World Books Encyclopedia Online as my solution. They have a kid version that I was especially interested in because it is geared towards younger students. I feel that this program maintains an even balance as a TPaCK solution and here's why...

TP knowledge for the solution:
World Books Kids Online offers a few features that will allow students to be successful in their independent research. One of the features that I was most impressed with was the "Hear-to-Text" option. Students can have the online encyclopedia article read to them. This is great for struggling readers, as well as, practicing readers because they can follow along as the computer reads each sentence to them. In addition to this feature, the articles are written for an intended audience and are age appropriate. World Books has different levels of difficulty in online encyclopedias depending on the age of students in your school. This is a great way to hopefully implement this program district wide. Moreover, in all the levels of World Books, videos and images are included for student's research. This is a great tool for visual learners. Overall, this software meets my pedagogical belief that students are offered multiple ways to learn information and can do so independently because it's very easy to navigate.

TC knowledge for the solution:
This technology makes the content more intellectually accessible because the information provided is very up-to-date, which is one of the perks of being an online resource. As most people, World Book Encyclopedias are a very well-known print series. They update their volumes yearly, but are very expensive to repurchase. Therefore, some libraries in turn can sometimes offer students out-of-date and older material when doing research. With World Books Online, their encyclopedias are continually updated and you don't have to purchase the new volumes yearly. It's all included in your subscription.

PC knowledge for the solution:
My pedagogical choices make the content more intellectually accessible by making it a priority and acknowledging that students learn differently. The content is introduced to students in various formats. Students can listen to audio to help them follow along or help them though difficult words, videos and images are provided for visual learners, and there are features that allow students to compare subject by content. Students' uniqueness is recognized with this program and they have options of how they would like to acquire or view that information. It is ideal for a library's resource where independent research is a desired outcome.




Works Cited

Reading Rockets. “Hooking struggling readers: using books they can and want to read.” Reading Rockets, 2011.

World Books Online. "World Books Kids Online." World Books, Inc. 2011.