How Technology Use Extends the Boundaries of the Literacy Environment and the Literacy Teacher...

How Technology Use Extends the Boundaries of theLiteracy Environment and the Literacy Teacher

Carolyn B. Gwinn & Susan Watts Taffe

Educational Researchers and Consultants

International Reading Association

Preconference Institute

May 13, 2007

Presentation Overview

Purpose of Session Characteristics of the Learning Environment Instructional Cycle in Action:

Examples from the Classroom Reflection and Sharing Teacher Characteristics Closing Thoughts

Characteristics of the Learning Environment Promoting Learning to Learn Critical Thinking Differentiation of Instruction Attention to Social Interaction and

Collaboration Equity of Access to Technology Multifaceted Preparation for Instruction

Coupled with Flexibility and Responsiveness

Instructional Cycle in Action: Examples from the Classroom

Primary Grade Students Make Connections: Reader Response

Intermediate Grade Students Make Connections: Synthesizing Across Texts

Primary Grade Students Make Connections

Primary Grade StudentsMake Connections

Primary Grade StudentsMake Connections

My dream is to be a major leaguebaseball player when I grow up.

Learning Objectives

Respond to Wake Up, World! A Day in the Life of Children Around the World with an emphasis on dreams for today and tomorrow.

Use KidPix, presentation software, to develop a class slide show.

Recognize similarities and differences between themselves and other children from around the world.

Planning

Determining learning objectives Selecting literature Collaborating with technology specialist to

select software and design learning opportunities

Refining objectives and instructional plans Confirming availability of the computer lab

and software

Sample of Criteria for Software Selection

Holds students’ interest Clear, concise, and easy to follow instructions Fosters interaction and cooperative activities Accommodates differing abilities

From Wepner, S. B., & Ray, L. C. (2000). Using Technology for Reading Development. In S. B. Wepner, W.J. Valmont, & R. Thurlow, (Eds.), Linking Literacy and Technology: A Guide for K-8 Classrooms (pp. 76-105). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.

Teaching

Wake Up, World! A Day in the Life of Children Around the World is read and introduced

Development of a slide is modeled with an accompanying think aloud

Guidelines for collaboration are determined Slides are created portraying dreams Slides submitted to class slideshow

Teaching: Think Aloud

Teaching: Guided Practice

Student Assessment

Performance Task:In response to Wake Up World! A Day in the Life of Children Around the World, create a slide using KidPix, which includes text and supporting graphics.

Expectation Marking1: Least evident

4: Most evident

Meaningful Text

1 2 3 4

Supporting Graphics

1 2 3 4

Complexity of Final Project

1 2 3 4

Process of Project Completion

1 2 3 4

Intermediate Grade Students Make Connections

Intermediate Grade Students Make Connections

Intermediate Grade StudentsMake Connections

A Child’s Life in Nigeria

By Daniel Lawson, Sofia Grant,Francesca Miller, and Paul Kennedy

If you are a child in Nigeria,you:

≥ May speak English, Hausa, Yoruba, or even anotherlanguage

≥ Probably do not have a TV

≥ May not learn to read and write

≥ May work to earn money for your family

Learning Objectives

Gather and synthesize information from print and online sources

Communicate knowledge gained to others

Enhance awareness of the world outside of North America

Planning

Searching for and selecting print resources for students

Searching for and selecting online resources for students

Refining objectives and plans for instruction Creating learning guides Creating teaching plan

Reviewing Websites

Website Possibilitieshttp: www.globalschoolnet.org/GSH/pr/index.cfm

Projects that are already set up that allow Ss to see the way other children live (e.g., homeless in our own country)

United Nations Cyberschoolbus Allows kids to select a country and get great information quickly---Country at a Glance. Seems appropriate for Ss. This is one of the sites I will bookmark for kids.

Telecollaborate! (ePals) I have registered with ePals, thinking this can be incorporated into the project.

Designing Learning Opportunities

1/13:Going through sites that I checked off in the Leu book. Constant decision making as I type in the keyword (I am no longer typing in URLs as I have discovered that so many have changed anyway), then decide from everything that pops up which site to go to, then navigate within the site, all the while thinking about how much longer to continue on one site before giving up on it as one that might fit my purpose. Getting a vague picture of what I want students to experience in this unit.

1/17:Margie is pulling books that my students can use during library time. I am trying to make sure that students will have good print sources as well as online sources for their research. I am still trying to figure out how I want to group students for this project.

1/23:My start date for this unit is February 5, so I need to get a handle on the logistics. I have decided against using e-Pals, although I would love to use it in the future---maybe as a follow-up to this unit, students can find an e-Pal in the region they chose to study. For now, the focus remains on reading to learn and synthesizing information across sources. I am thinking that students will work in groups of 4. . .

-Excerpt from Paula’s Anecdotal Log

Designing Learning Opportunities

1/24:I am working on the Evaluation Rubric for this project . . . Since they [the students] have gone through this [research] process before, I think the big focus for this unit will be on synthesizing across various types of texts and interpreting web-based text. My students will definitely need support on this and I need to figure out how to model and give them practice opportunities. . . I am also thinking about Luka and Noah, as well as my struggling readers and trying to figure out how they will be integrally involved in this project AND supported throughout. I have scheduled some time with Becky and Lydia and I am hopeful that they can help me out with some ideas and classroom support.

1/25:How will all of the groups access all of the resources? I am working on a rotation system to allow each group to have computer time, classroom library time, and school library time and to cycle through these “research centers” at least 2 times during the course of the project. I envision students working together to determine the categories of information they will search for and then each individual in the group taking a category and coming back to the group with the results. . .

-Excerpt from Paula’s Anecdotal Log

Teaching

Teaching

Read Aloud: If the World Were a Village Introduce Resource Stations Librarian’s Lesson: Researching Countries Paula’s Lessons: Online Research Research Status Reports: Product & Process Paula’s Lessons: Synthesizing Information

Teaching

Paula’s Lessons: Report Writing Research Report Writing Conferences Paula’s Refresher: PowerPoint Presentation: Preparation, Practice, &

Publication

Reflection and Sharing

Select the classroom example that best aligns with your work with learners in the areas of literacy and technology

Respond to the following on the index card:1. Describe insights gained as a result of learning about literacy-

technology integration in the selected classroom. 2. How might these insights be applied to your work with learners?

Beyond?3. What are your first steps in applying insights to your work?

After responding, share your insights with someone near you

Teacher Characteristics

AttributesDecision MakersConfidentVision

AttitudesTechnology

CanAll Students

Can

ActionsCommunicate &

CollaborateExplorePersist

What’s on your mind?

Contact Information

Carolyn B. Gwinn

carolyngwinn@comcast.net Susan Watts Taffe

wattstaffe@zoomtown.com