Tuesday, January 1, 2025
Why Face-to-Face Literacy Instruction Matters More Than Ever
Where does automation intersect with education?
What are we happy to see replaced, reimagined and repurposed?
And what are our true ‘non-negotiables’ in achieving the ultimate goal of a fitting and effective education for all?
These are questions which are top of mind for us here at Lexonik.
With our core focus that ‘nobody should be limited because they can’t read’, we’re reflecting on the transformative power of education (and specifically, literacy) and the role it plays in shaping a brighter future for all.
With technology continuing to advance at an exponential rate, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), it’s imperative we in the school teaching and leadership community are all committed to permanent consideration for how automation and technology intersect with education.
Yes, as we all know, AI indeed holds immense potential to enhance learning, but, at the same time, we believe in preserving human agency in the educational process.
This is especially true in the world of literacy, where our classroom training and delivery reminds us time and again, that the human element, and that ‘whites of the eyes interaction’, is just irreplaceable.
There’s such a delicate balance in leveraging technology to make learning more efficient, while not reducing its powerful and emotive impact.
A recent article by Alex Quigley in TES explored this very issue, particularly in relation to reading instruction.
In his piece, Quigley cautions against the temptation to make reading "easier" through over-reliance on tools and automation. He argues that simplifying the process too much could rob learners of the cognitive challenges that reading demands, which are essential for developing deep comprehension and critical thinking skills.
As Quigley points out, while tools like AI and automated reading apps can offer quick solutions, they may inadvertently short-circuit the cognitive and emotional growth that comes with grappling with difficult texts.
At Lexonik, we share this concern.
While we embrace the use of technology in education, we recognise that the face-to-face interaction between teacher and student remains a cornerstone of meaningful learning.
We remain proudly committed to delivering our Lexonik training in person. Regardless of what technology has emerged or evolved since the days in which our founder Katy first launched our programmes, we know that literacy development in its truest form, needs more than a distant and digital approach.
Teachers we train report time and again how our live classroom approach provides them with a welcome and dynamic interaction, full of nuance.
AI, for all its benefits, simply cannot replicate that.
More than that, every teacher knows so well how the shared experience of learning, with its small moments of victory, challenge, and frustration, is integral to the process of becoming a confident reader (or confident in any subject matter).
At Lexonik, we know that learning to read is not a race to the finish line. Instead, it is a journey, and every part of that journey is important.
Over reliance on tech and automation puts the joy of that journey at risk.
Let us instead see AI as an aid not an outright shift in a direction we come to regret. Let us move into an era of education aided with more tech, but maintaining critical human connection.
Ready to empower learners? Start your new literacy journey today.
Equip learners with essential reading skills and a rich vocabulary for lifelong success.