1. Potsdam LiteracyTech Wiki: Sheard Literacy Center Mentoring Tools & Tips Developed by graduate students in GRDG 625: Using Technology to Teach Literacy Fall 2012

2. What’s a Wiki?  It’s a type of website that allows users to write, edit, and comment collaboratively  It requires almost no knowledge of computer programming language or coding  It is hosted by a company and enables users to choose features; basic sites may be free; added features cost a bit

3. Our course Wiki  Hosted by “Wikispaces.com” for FREE  Used to post course materials and links to many other kinds of relevant resources for literacy teaching with technology  Includes a new feature: “Sheard Literacy Center Mentoring Program Tech Tools & Teaching Tips” just for YOU!

4. The Wiki URL: http://potsdamliteracytech.wikispaces.com

5. From the main Wiki page, go to the Navigation Bar on the left. Find the “Sheard Literacy Center Mentoring” area: You can explore the whole site, but THIS area has resources designed especially for YOU and your mentee

6. Mentoring Tools & Teaching Tips = Three Major Topics 1) Animals & Nature 2) Heroes 3) Local and Global Connections

7. Within EACH topic, you’ll find…  Book Reviews (some books available on campus)  Links to High-Quality Lesson Plans  Links to Web 2.0 Tools (more in a minute…)  Links to Games, Activities, Websites & Blogs  Instructor Resources (videos related to literacy teaching, technology & literacy, and more)

8. Use, Create, Adapt!  “Animals & Nature” and “Heroes” are geared toward elementary-level learners  “Local & Global” focuses more on middle-level learners  BUT - You should explore them all. You might get ideas in unexpected places. For example….

9. Make a cartoon with your mentee Find this under “Heroes > Web 2.0” but, with your help, a mentee of any age can use it.

10. Slow down! What is Web 2.0???? Web 2.0 refers to websites that let you “author” using designs and tools provided on the site itself. Social media are one type of Web 2.0 site. There are tons of educational tools for teaching. Keep in mind:  You may need to create an account to use  We suggest you create a gmail account and use that address rather than your Potsdam email  DO NOT enter information about your mentee online. Only enter information needed to use the Web 2.0 tool. “Explore FIRST for TEACHING FIT”

12. And there’s more Web 2.0 On the main page of our Course Wiki, explore “Web 2.0 Tools for Literacy Teaching & Learning” with a link to “Web 2.0 - Cool Tools for Schools” (http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com)

14. Of course, it’s not all Web 2.0  Each TOPIC includes links to informational text resources, games, videos, art/craft ideas, and more for your mentees  Each TOPIC also includes “Instructor Resources” for you, including:  Academic journal articles related to literacy teaching and teaching with technology  “How-to” videos for teaching & learning

15. We hope you learn and enjoy BEAR WITH US! The Wiki is still being developed. We will be adding to it and finalizing over the next week or so. Send questions, comments, ideas to: Prof. Marta Albert albertmk@potsdam.edu