During the global Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, issues of access to educational resources became a prominent issue and challenge in K-12 settings. Even with the right technology hardware, access to digital resources and texts became another challenge. As some public library systems and/or school libraries were not open or nearby, access to digital texts became necessary and vital to maintaining student's reading skills and providing equity in reading. Prior to the pandemic, digital e-texts have provided ways for readers to use mobile devices, tablets, and other versatile resources to engage with reading. Building on the idea of #keeplearning and #keepteaching, this session provides examples of free and accessible e-texts and mobile apps that can be of use to K-12 readers, teacher educators, and librarians. This session has a global focus and is specific to the Covid-19 pandemic in that young readers around the world need broader access to digital text as learning shifted and continues to shift to online settings. Additionally, text needs to be of quality to engage young readers across a wide variety of genres as does the ability to access multilingual e-texts. Learn more about the wide variety of digital and multi-modal texts that become possibilities for reading material for K-12 readers in virtual and home-school settings during and beyond the pandemic. K-12 students, educators, and families, who come from diverse language backgrounds need such access to quality texts, tools, and resources to develop their literacy skills in engaging ways. Participants will be provided a list of free digital reading titles, websites, and other resources that will help K-12 students’ literacy development. Ideas to build, remix, and create free digital texts for K-12 readers, including both fiction and non-fiction will also be shared. Examples of library-sponsored resources, non-profit resources, and resources curated by the United Nations will be curated and shared. Connections and alignment to the United Nations sustainable development goals will be explored. Information will be posted to an open blog so that comments can be made and resources can be easily shared.
Learning Outcomes: Participants will familiarize themselves with the definition of quality digital texts for K-12 readers.
Participants will discuss characteristics of quality of free and accessible e-text for K-12 readers including texts that focus specifically on health literacy and Covid-19 topics in particular..
Participants will design and develop ideas for integrating open digital e-text for K-12 readers into teacher education courses, library programs, nonprofit use, and other contexts.
