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Making Learning Interactive: Reading, Writing, and Collaborating with Internet Technologies

Page history last edited by PBworks 16 years, 10 months ago

Making learning interactive:  Reading, Writing, and Collaborating, in Schools with

Today’s Internet Technologies 

 

        

 

Jill Castek, New Literacies Research Team, University of Connecticut

Lisa Zawilinski, New Literacies Research Team, University of Connecticut

 

Download our handout to access clickable resources Making Learning Interactive.doc

 

Abstract

 

Today's information and communication technologies can be used in innovative ways to enhance learning. This session will explore the potential for greater engagement, interactivity, and interaction among students in elementary and middle grades through the use of wikis, blogs, and discussion forums in and beyond the classroom.  Projects we have implemented and free resources we have used will be highlighted.  Come and explore the ways today’s ICTs are being used to extend the boundaries of literacy and enhance learning across the curriculum!

 

Overview

 

The Internet is increasingly being used as a tool for research in our classrooms, media centers, community centers, and homes. Teachers are familiar with teaching students how to develop research questions, locate information, critically evaluate and synthesize across traditional print texts and are beginning to feel more comfortable in using Internet technologies and online resources to enhance their own teaching.  It is time to begin taking the next step, using Internet technologies to extend learning opportunities for students in school.  This requires teachers to develop new instructional strategies that take advantage of new Internet collaboration tools.  In addition to using computers as a teaching tool, teachers need to learn how to introduce students to using computers as a learning tool. Students must acquire new literacies and develop positive dispositions for adapting to the ever-changing array of technologies available.  School is a great place to support this kind of learning.

 

There is an Abundance of New and Useful Tools Available Free Online

 

In this session, we will explore the many benefits students gain when they use online communication tools in classrooms.  We will also share examples of ways we have used Google Notebooks, Google Docs (and Spreadsheets), Google Groups and other discussion boards, blogs, wikis and collaborative projects to enhance learning in elementary and middle grade classrooms.

 

Session Objectives

 

•    Explore the benefits of integrating today’s Internet technologies into our classrooms

•    Explore new instructional strategies for teaching and learning with the Internet

•    Explore new Internet technologies that promote collaboration (all are FREE)

 

  •  reading, exchanging and co-constructing texts using Google Docs
  • clipping, gathering, and sharing ideas using Google Notebooks
  • reading and writing collaboratively on classroom wikis,
  • exchanging ideas on classroom blogs, and
  • participating in online dialogues using discussion boards and Google Groups

 

Benefits of Integrating Today’s Internet Technologies into Our Classrooms

 

•    Students complete authentic reading and writing activities that take advantage of the Internet

•    Collaborative Internet tools take advantage the reciprocity between reading and writing.

•    The Internet provides access to a wide-array of resources that incorporate sound, images, video, and other multi-media with text to engage students in content. 

•    Activities extend beyond the classroom, inviting students to collaborate globally with others who think in new and different ways.

 

 

Reading, Exchanging and Co-constructing Texts using Google Docs

 

•    Google Docs http://www.google.com/google-d-s/b1.html is an online word processor that enables users to collaborate on documents in real-time.

•    Google Docs functions much the same way as Microsoft Word.  Students can create documents in Google Docs, format and re-edit them numerous times.  Students can save files,    share files with others, and publish their documents to the Web. 

•    Google Docs offers students the ability to publish their work and share it easily with others.  Once published, documents can be re-edited in Google Docs.  The published web   version is then automatically updated. 

•    Uses in schools:

  • To support collaborative writing between students
  • To have a place where students can store and edit documents
  • To house documents where students can access them from any computer

 

 

Clipping, Gathering, and Sharing Ideas using Google Notebooks

 

•    Google Notebook www.google.com/notebook is a personal online location where students can clip and collect information as they browse the web.   For a student doing research, Google Notebook is an incredible tool for keeping resources and notes together in one place.

 

•    Students can clip and archive information from the web in a central location.  This encourages synthesis across online resources and supports the research process in any content area.  The Notebook makes creating web references a snap and eliminates paper note taking.

 

•    Benefits:

o    Students can select and clip text, images and links from web pages

o    Site citations are created automatically, tracking where the students gathered info

o    Students can create and organize notes about what they have read online.

o    Notebooks can be divided into sections, helping students to stay organized.

o    Notebooks can be accessed from any computer.  Clips from webpage can be made from Firefox (with a quick download).  Multiple windows need not be opened.

o    Notebooks can be published to the web and shared with others.

 

 

Reading and Writing Collaboratively using Classroom Wikis

 

A wiki is a webpage that is easily created and edited by multiple authors.  All types of media can be easily added to wiki pages including images, links, files, and new wiki pages.  Revisions to any wiki page can be tracked using the site’s history feature.  Multiple versions of all pages are automatically archived allowing earlier versions of the page restored when needed.  Students and teachers can dialog about changes they wish to make to a page using the “comments” feature.  Comments allow for an asynchronous exchange between wiki users. There are many classroom friendly tools for making your classroom’s own personal wiki space.  Wikis are fun and easy!

Wikis We’ve Built with Our Students

 

•    National Parks http://newliteracies.pbwiki.com/National%20Parks

o    Password: nagano

 

•    Nierlich Class http://nierlichclass.wetpaint.com/

 

Exchanging Ideas on Classroom Blogs

 

A blog is a webpage that is easily edited.  Additionally, depending upon permissions, readers can comment on the entries posted by the author(s).  While blogs have been traditionally used as online diaries and for political commentary, classroom teachers have begun using blogs to post classroom assignments and update parents on school events.  Some teachers use blogs for literature responses, to collect student opinions about content area learning topics, and as a reflection tool. In our experience, using a classroom blog invites and extend a cooperative classroom dialog.  Use of a blog promotes learning in the classroom and beyond.  The educational possibilities are endless. Visit a few of the blogs we have created to spark ideas.

 

Blogs We’ve Build with Our Students

 

•    Human Body Project http://newliteracies.typepad.com/human_body_project_studen/

•    Idea Exchange http://ideaexchange.edublogs.org/

•    Nierlich Students http://missionstudents.learnerblogs.org/

 

Resources for Creating Educational Blogs and Wikis

 

•    Free Educational Blogs for Teachers & Students

o    Edublogs http://edublogs.org/

o    Learner Blogs http://learnerblogs.org/

 

•    Free Wiki Services that are Education Friendly

o    PBWiki  http://pbwiki.com/

o    Wikispaces  http://www.wikispaces.com/

 

•    Videos that show the power of blogs & wikis

o    Will Richardson http://education.zdnet.com/?p=35

o    Jon Udell http://weblog.infoworld.com/udell/gems/umlaut.html

 

Participating in online discussion boards using Google Groups

 

•    Google Groups http://groups.google.com  is an online discussion board where participants are invited to post and comment on topics of special interest.  In essence, Google Groups functions as a threaded discussion board with greater control on the part of the teacher.  Students can view others’ posts and opinions, or these can be kept private and moderated.  Only those invited can read discussion boards and post to them.  Easy, fun, and FREE! 

 

Going Global:  Free Online Tools for Educators

 

Most of us are familiar with email, but many teachers aren’t aware of student friendly email sites or Global Collaboration Projects. ePALS, www.epals.com  offers free classroom email accounts for students and features global Internet learning projects, student friendly discussion boards on topics of interest to students, and tools for teacher networking as well. Teachers are able to moderate and screen students’ accounts, addressing concerns about safety and language appropriateness. 

 

•    Free Student Email Services for Education & International Exchange Projects

o    ePALS http://www.epals.com/

o    Developing Intercultural Language Learning through On-line Exchanges http://www3.unileon.es/personal/wwdfmrod/collab/

o    Intercultural  E-mail Classroom Connections http://www.iecc.org/

o    Kidlink http://www.kidlink.org/

 

Internet Safety

 

Many teachers feel reluctant to use Internet communication tools because they perceive the risks to children outweigh the possible benefits the tools offer. While we agree that the Internet can be a risky environment, we feel students can be taught how to behave safely while online.  One resource we use often is PBS Kids Internet Driver’s License http://pbskids.org/license.  This module is organized as an interactive.  It uses a questioning approach to teaching kids about general rules about password sharing, making public personal information and the like.  Also included is an end product, An Internet Driver’s License that students can print and keep with them.  It serves as an excellent tool for reminding students the “rules of the road” while online.

 

 

 

Articles and Videos that Demonstrate the Need to Transform Instructional Practices

 

•    How to Bring Our Schools Out of the 21st Century, Time Magazine http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1568480,00.html

 

•    The Partnership for 21st Century Skills http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/

 

•    Teacher Tube http://www.teachertube.com/

 

 

 

Articles We’ve Authored that Extend New Ideas for Introducing New Literacies

 

•    Reading adventures online:  Five ways to introduce the new literacies of the Internet through children’s literature http://homepages.uconn.edu/~jmc03014/work.html

 

•    Reading and Writing the Internet with Kids http://www.latimes.com/extras/readingby9/parentguide/story12.html

 

•    The New Literacies of Online Reading Comprehension NERAJ_articlelfinal.doc

 

 

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