Digital+Writing+Articles

Please post your article links on this page. Don't forget to include a brief summary as well as your name. [|Writing in a Digital Age]by Sandy Hayes. Provides a basic summary of ideas and tools for digital writing in the classroom: digital storytelling, imovies, podcasts, and blogs, for example. While the article does not delve much into the philosophical issues of digital writing, the article does provide a practical and helpful list of tools and websites at the end that teachers might use to learn and develop activities. John

Digital Writing Matters This supports Brad's book "Because Digital Writing Matters..." and includes a slideshow from the author about what digital writing means and looks like. It also has links to other articles/authors and a lesson plan. I like this website, Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning, for all things related to libraries. Sally

[|Writing Re-launched: Teaching with Digital Tools]by Liana Heitin. The question is Why are students still using pen, paper, and hardbound dictionaries to write? Reasons, some that were discussed in class, include lack of resoures and training, and pressure of testing. The author speakes to the reasons why our students and teachers must be prepared for launching digital technology: we must prepare our students for college and career readiness. Hey the article even talks about the National Writing Project, the folks who are providing PD to districts across the country, and has helped to offset our tuition for this class. Teachers are taking advantage of this Project and have found tools and gained skills to improve their instruction and Good read. Rozalia

Why Integrate the Use of Technology into the Classroom? This article supports the use of technology in the classroom. Technology offers an alternative venue for both teachers and students. Teachers may find the use of technology as a way to enhance their lesson planning and execution. Technology also assists with keeping track of student progress and instant clarification of inquieries from both students and teachers. Students respond positively to the use of technology in the classroom. It allows them quick and easy access to information, while engaging four learning processes. Pat

How to Use Digital Storytelling in Your Classroom Teachers and professional film makers, Joe Fatheree and Craig Lingvahl offer 7 practical and affordable strategies for using digital storytelling in the classroom. Their advice ranges for thinking about what you watch to classroom management. Carletta

A Rhetorical View of WritingArticle might be more suitable for upper level classes, but it explores the idea that writing is a process of "discovering meaning or knowledge" and not a "container" for that knowledge. Article includes interactive links to help readers explore their current beliefs and promote thought. The article is a bit heady as it goes beyond the "if you can't beat them, join them" logic of using technology to teach writing. Jayne

Digital Storytelling For Language and Culture Learning This article describes what a digital story is and how Judith Rance-Roney had her students use digital storytelling to acquire language skills and learn about cultural differences. Holly

Cyber Church of Milwaukee In a personal email dated July 20, 2011, the author of this article and almost three-page website said, "Back in the late 80s I invented an internet ministry called the Cyberchurch of Milwaukee. At first it was generated as a mass mailing eventually reaching about 150 people world wide. At one point in the late 80s we gathered members together to instant message one another in real time. It had never been done! (It didn't work well) I provided weekly devotionals for people who for whatever reason had no church. It was published in a magazine in Germany and translated into Portugeuse for use by missionaries in Brazil. In the early 90s it was archived on a Marquette University server and is still up today." This is a worthy, quick read because you can't take spirituality out of public education, and students benefit from healthy teachers who aren't afraid to talk about faith.

Collaborative Digital Writing I chose to post this article because I felt that it was appropriate for elementary classrooms This article is about a teacher writing a digital story collaboratively with the entire class. The students work through the writing process together while writing on the computer. I like the having the ability to model the writing process and many other technology skills with the students. -Courtney

Blogs for learning I chose this article because it explains the uses of RSS. Even digital natives are largely unfamiliar with this. It is a way to access and track information. There are many sources available and you can set it up on your own computer. Basically it's a streaming news feed. My students need to research a world theatre tradition and write a research paper. I thought this could be a way to focus their searches and make them more productive. Too often they procrastinate--something I can't necessarily fix--and they struggle to find appropriate sources--something RSS might alleviate. rhoda