Digital Writing and New Media in Every Classroom

Literacy Best Practices

How media and digital literacy in the classroom helps students:

We can easily differentiate for multiple skill and interest levels by providing for choice

We can remix the voices of our students to reflect this vide variety of interests

We can provide an alternative to social codes by allowing for self-directed inquiry

We can help all students to reshape their self-images through media “texts” that reflect them as individuals

Connected Learning

Key Concept: CHOICE

Allow students to make clear and distinct choices about topic study

Set clear expectations and guidelines

Provide extended time for students to uncover views that are not immediately present

Allow students to modify or abandon projects that are not going well

Media and Choice

Arm students with skills to seek out and find relevant and useful information:

Using keywords Evaluating sources Fostering a healthy

skepticism Model and practice

metacognition

Encourage deep exploration into “nitty gritty” details:

Show students HOW to break down larger ideas

Explore multifaceted concepts

Connect form and function

Model as a co-learner

Another look at the learning process . . .

Formative Assessments:Practice Makes Perfect

Provide low stakes, low risk assessments

Use a wide variety of media tools Address common themes or skills while

offering topic choice Model digital communication regularly Encourage “word of mouth”

recommendations Student generated media projects

allow multiple opportunities for revision

Suggested Media Integration

Video – small chunks, closed-captioned

Podcasts / Audio – individual listening, Voicethread

Electronic Communication – model texts and monitoring

News and Current Events – reading for details

Discussion Boards – provocative prompts and modeled responses

Flipped Classrooms

Crowdsourcing – Skype in the Classroom

Social Networks . . .

Social Networks and Crowdsourcing

TOPICS

Digital footprints and digital identities

Tone and messaging Authentic audiences Using social networks

and crowdsourcing to your advantage

Encourage co-expertise

RESOURCES

Twitter Facebook Tumblr Instagram Pinterest Yelp Craigslist Skype Evernote Hootsuite Ning

Student Generated Media

Digital Storytelling Narratives Documentaries Poetry and Spoken Word Remixed Media and Mashups

Public Service Announcements Websites Blogs Student Journalism

Resources

Connected Learning Digital Writing Links NWP Digital Is Skype in the Classroom UNC School of Ed WebQuest Center for Digital Storytelling Media Smarts Boys and Digital Literacy Summary R

eport ASCD text re: The Boy Code