Digital Tools for Writing Across the Curriculum

Purpose & objective

When writing in any classroom, we want our students to use their imagination, write with rich detail and paint a picture with words. Join us as we share activities that utilize technology to provide engaging writing activities for your students, including Augmented Reality and online tools. The purpose of this workshop is to provide the participants with technology tools they can use to transform writing activities and make their curriculum more engaging and hands-on. We will focus on tools and strategies that emphasize student self-reflection and communicating globally. Many of the tools presented can be used to differentiate instruction for diverse learners. Throughout the workshop, the presenters will facilitate discussions about which activities will work best in a 1:1 environment and which will work best in classrooms where every student does not have a device. We will discuss how devices can be shared, how teachers can utilize the one or two computers in the back of the room and how writing activities can be competed in a small group rotation. Today's technology tools can provide teachers with the ability to transform their classroom into an engaging environment that students will want to be a part of. We have found that student engagement and creativity will increase when students are given the opportunity to use technology tools in their classroom. The workshop will utilize several apps for Augmented Reality. In addition, websites and apps to be demonstrated and discussed include but are not limited to Adobe Spark, Smore, Bulb, Write About This, Newsela, and Book Creator. The workshop presenters will demonstrate how to use many of the tools on our Digital Tools for Writing website (https://www.smore.com/n9bt7). Several of the activities will be hands-on and allow for the attendees to participate from the student viewpoint. We will also use digital tools that will allow the audience to share ideas and tools they have found to be successful in their classrooms. We will also use websites that will allow the audience to share ideas and tools they have found to be successful in their classrooms. Included in the presentation will be methods for teachers to use technology for the various type of writing as well as activities, sites and apps for writing prompts. Teacher will participate in Qr Code activities and experience Augmented Reality exercises that ask students to express themselves using the four types of writing (narrative, persuasive, descriptive and expository). Participants will be given access to a website (https://www.smore.com/n9bt7) that will include links to all of the activities, websites and apps from the workshop as well as student and teacher examples. Also, by having access to the website, participants will be able to view any changes and additions that are made to the presentation at a later date. The website will include a Padlet of attendee input. We will use the Padlet activity and the questions/comments time slot as an indication of the success of the workshop. Attendees will be asked to include which activities and ideas from the workshop will they most likely use in their classrooms. Activities and tools that will be shared will allow students to use technology every day to access information, make decisions and express creativity. When teachers create dynamic learning communities within their classrooms, the impact on instructional practice is immediate and rewarding. This workshop will challenge and invigorate the participants and will then give them tools to transform the writing activities in their classroom. Participants in the workshop will experience activities that can easily be replicated in multiple curriculum areas and grade levels. Most of the tools included in the workshop are device-agnostic and are either free of low-cost. Janet and Joan have presented "Digital Tools for Writing" at multiple conferences throughout the United States. In addition, the technology tools that are part of the workshop are often used with teachers and students when they model lessons and train in districts and schools.

Outline

1. Introduction - Present a short overview of content and share link to website used in workshop. (10 minutes) 2. Participant Input - Share link to Padlet that allows attendees to input their ideas and tools they currently use in their classrooms. (10 minutes) 3. Presenters will present student and teacher examples of the following types of technology-enriched writing activities that utilize both websites and apps: QR Codes, Augmented Reality, Writing Prompts, Websites for Writing and Apps for Writing. During this time, attendees will participate in several online activities (games, quizzes, etc.). (50 minutes) 4. Closing - Review the Padlet of ideas from the attendees and answer any questions. (15 minutes) 5. Workshop Evaluation from ISTE (5 minutes)

Supporting research

“Return to Sender” (article) – Dan Gordon – http://thejournal.com/articles/2011/03/07/return-to-sender.aspx “The skills in high demand now are not exclusively reading, writing, and arithmetic. Magner's organization [Partnership for 21st Century Skills] says United States schools need to fuse the traditional three Rs with the four Cs--critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity--while also making room for problem-solving and innovation.” Whithaus, C. (2005). Teaching and Evaluating Writing in the Age of Computers and High-Stakes Testing. Routledge. Purcell, Kristen, Judy Buchanan, and Linda Friedrich. "The impact of digital tools on student writing and how writing is taught in schools." Washington, DC: Pew Research Center (2013). Merchant, Guy. "Writing the future in the digital age." Literacy 41.3 (2007): 118-128. Beach, Richard, and Bertram C. Bruce. "Using digital tools to foster critical inquiry." New Literacies and Digital Epistemologies, Vol. 7 (2002