THE 21ST CENTURY WRITER CONNECTING, CREATING AND COMMUNICATING IN THE DIGITAL WORLD Cathy Danahy, Johnna Costanza Sharon Bailey, Liz Walker March 24, 2014

Digital Writing What is it? Participatory and collaborative and/or more than just words: images, sound, video, motion to communicate a message. How does it fit in with writing instruction? The possibilities are endless but we need to put meaning behind the “project.” Technology is not just for technology’s sake.

Web 2.0 and Digital Tools Used to produce and publish writing Appropriate for every level Make technology projects fun and engaging

Digital Tools Enhance Learning Give students a chance to review their work and edit when necessary Can be a motivating factor because there is an audience Authentic These tools are what professionals in every industry are using to communicate, innovate and collaborate.

Good Digital Writers are Good Digital Citizens Necessary part of a technology integration Digital citizens help build positive online communities Blogging, commenting on Voicethreads are all opportunities to practice Netiquette

In Writing Workshop we… Engage in process writing Organize units of study around a genre with skills and strategies embedded in the unit Bring one piece to print publication

When Publishing Digitally we… Think, What is this piece of writing’s digital form? Turn a print piece into a digitally published piece Transfer learned skills, application of skills Work in teams > Project based learning Work collaboratively

Turning a Print Piece of Writing into a Digital Piece Teaches Students to… Consider their audience Define a purpose Adjust the tone Make good decisions about language Structure a piece across platforms

First Grade Unit: Writing to Teach Others Print Piece: All About Books Digital Piece: Little Bird Tales

Second Grade Unit: Writing about Our Opinions Print Piece: Book Reviews Digital Piece: Voicethread Second Grade

Fourth Grade Unit: Researching to Write about Information Print Piece: Nonfiction Books Technology Connection: Using presentation tools to produce and publish writing

Sixth Grade Unit: Nonfiction Research Clubs and Writing to Make a Difference Print Writing: Research Based Argument Essays Digital Writing: Public Service Announcement

Eighth Grade Unit: Navigating through 21st Century Information and Using our Words to Change the World Print Piece: Argument Essay Digital Piece: Ted Talk Example 1 Example 2 Example 3

Eighth Grade Unit: Exploring Fairness and Equality as Themes in Literature Print Piece: Reading Notebook Responses Digital Piece: Book Trailer

Looking Forward As we learn the tools, we can make improvements in their usage Students are self directing this learning, we are their guides Tremendous opportunity for creativity Constantly learning about new web 2.0 tools and seeing how they apply