Below is a link to my Blendspace. I am excited to hear your feedback on my project! I have enjoyed developing transformative solutions to my problem of practice.
I can tell you've done a lot of research for this, especially regarding digital writing tools available. My first thought that comes to mind: be careful about the number of apps you're exposing your students to. You have a lot, especially after that initial exposure period. For instance, I think you mentioned four or five brainstorming tools. What do you stand to gain from so many? Your problem of practice evolved to be focused on increasing engagement. Won't one or two apps for brainstorming increase enthusiasm just as much as three or five, especially considering the ipads will be new to begin with? I've gone through a similar process in years past, where I think the more options students have, the better it is, but practically speaking this isn't always the case.
Say, for instance, you have four different brainstorming apps being used by students, then the opportunity for collaboration becomes more limited. If one student is unfamiliar with, say, Dragon, he/she is excluded from working with a student who is. You mentioned the communication standard, "interact with others...through collaborative conversations", just make sure that can happen to the fullest extent. If engagement is your focus, and you're introducing ipads this year, maybe think in stages. Just like the Horizon Report gives us immediate, soon, and distant emerging techs, think of your curriculum design as what should be done this fall, this year, and in years to come.
Back to engagement: are the students disengaged? What data do you have to suggest this is an area of concern? Most of all, if engagement is a problem, how does that translate to their written work? In other words, what do you want to see in student product that you're not seeing now? Implementing technology is great, but to be transformative, think a little bit more about learning outcomes. Increasing engagement alone won't necessarily create stronger writing, you know? It'll make class more enjoyable for them (and you), but it might require circling back to the standards and fleshing out some lesson plans more. To that end, I'd start with the writing standard. Pick one..."Write Arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence", then find the app that helps you do that. And again, I say "the app", not "several apps", because the engagement will blossom when students can work together as much as possible. Let the choice be about how many other students they can work with, not how many apps they can opt in to. If you have one app for each stage of the writing process, I think you're sufficiently covering your bases.
Just my two cents, take it or leave it. It's great to see how excited you are to implement ipads into your classroom; for many, that's a daunting task outside of their comfort zone.
I like the way you worded your problem of practice at the beginning of your paper. I think you really captured the reason why incorporating technology into writing instruction has become important. I understand the value of teaching formal writing, but at the same time, how often will students actually need to write formal, handwritten papers outside of school? Students are much more likely to need to know how to use computer programs and emails to write and share messages rather than having to write out formatted, multi-paragraph essays. The integration of technology into writing is extremely important for becoming college and career ready in this 21st century, digital age.
That being said, I feel like there needs to be a more specific explanation of how you are going to use these tools to improve writing instruction. I agree that the apps you mentioned are useful, but there is little explanation expressing exactly how you are going to use them. The way your key assignment is worded right now, the apps seem to be more at the substitution/augmentation level rather than the redefinition level you are aiming for. The difference between these is the way you choose to use the apps in the classroom. One of the key things to remember is these apps are not necessarily one size fits all. Dragon Dictation may be an amazing redefining tool for an ESOL or resource student who struggles to express his thoughts and get them down on paper. However, an above grade-level student who does not really need to have their thoughts written down for them will not benefit from using Dragon Dictation. I think the apps you chose should be used to help individualize students' needs. If the app is not a necessity for improving a child's writing, don't use it or find an app that may better suit their needs.
I think the other key that you mentioned but did not elaborate on is collaboration. Are you going to use small groups/peer editing/think-pair-share techniques to help students improve their own writing? Students need to be given power goals that is within their grasp to master. Once students reach one of their goals, give them another one to work towards achieving. Make sure you are ultimately putting the learning in their hands.
I would just be careful and constantly monitor to make sure these apps are actually improving their writing and not just being used for the sake of having technology during writing time. Overall, I think your plan is good and and with careful execution can really change the way you teach and students learn important writing skills. Good luck with the new SCCCR standards this year! I haven't examined the new writing standards super closely yet but hopefully they are not a tremendous change from last year's standards. ;)
I thought your problem of practice was stated in a clear concise manner that immediate notifies us about what you are working on. I think your problem and approach to solving this problem is a crucial one. With the addition of more technology in the classroom, good writing skills are sometimes lost. Computers and the lingo that comes along with it can sometimes teach students bad habits. I believe your plan is a good one and the use of technology can show students that technology and good writing can go hand in hand.
It is cool that you have options for each section of your plan and how you will address these categories. The different types of writing and brainstorming are well selected and you seem to cover each with ideas. I was wondering if you plan to narrow down each to the best option and use that or try a few tools for each one. I see advantages to both. Students would get to know new apps more in depth and become familiar with them. Assuming you pick the best for your class for each then they would also be learning in the most effective way and using the best out there. It could also be valuable to expose them to many options and types so they know what is out there and learn new techniques as well as how to be flexible. I was just curious if this was something you had considered and was curious to hear your thoughts. I would also be interested to hear more about the groups you are going to use and what kind of work or tools you will use during this period of the class.
I think you have chosen good tools and apps to help your students with their writing. Technology being used to increase creativity and engage your students is a great idea. It is difficult to sometimes stay focused on the goal and what you are using the technology for, so make sure it is being used at the right times and for the appropriate lessons. Keep up the good work and I hope your work goes great.
You make a very valid point about bringing your writing into the 21st century. I completely agree with you on that. Reviewing the “Citizenship” of technology is very important because they need to know what the good and the bad are when it comes to the internet. Will each student have their own individual goal and how will you keep track and monitor that? I think that the students would benefit from collaborating with the peers because their peers could possibly give them some ideas that they haven’t thought about. The apps that you have mentioned seem like they are very simple apps that elementary students would be able to use. How long is your writing time and how long do you anticipate it will take to finish one project? Overall I think the direction that you are going is fantastic and you and your students are very fortunate to have access to such great technology.
Hi Hannah,
ReplyDeleteI can tell you've done a lot of research for this, especially regarding digital writing tools available. My first thought that comes to mind: be careful about the number of apps you're exposing your students to. You have a lot, especially after that initial exposure period. For instance, I think you mentioned four or five brainstorming tools. What do you stand to gain from so many? Your problem of practice evolved to be focused on increasing engagement. Won't one or two apps for brainstorming increase enthusiasm just as much as three or five, especially considering the ipads will be new to begin with? I've gone through a similar process in years past, where I think the more options students have, the better it is, but practically speaking this isn't always the case.
Say, for instance, you have four different brainstorming apps being used by students, then the opportunity for collaboration becomes more limited. If one student is unfamiliar with, say, Dragon, he/she is excluded from working with a student who is. You mentioned the communication standard, "interact with others...through collaborative conversations", just make sure that can happen to the fullest extent. If engagement is your focus, and you're introducing ipads this year, maybe think in stages. Just like the Horizon Report gives us immediate, soon, and distant emerging techs, think of your curriculum design as what should be done this fall, this year, and in years to come.
Back to engagement: are the students disengaged? What data do you have to suggest this is an area of concern? Most of all, if engagement is a problem, how does that translate to their written work? In other words, what do you want to see in student product that you're not seeing now? Implementing technology is great, but to be transformative, think a little bit more about learning outcomes. Increasing engagement alone won't necessarily create stronger writing, you know? It'll make class more enjoyable for them (and you), but it might require circling back to the standards and fleshing out some lesson plans more. To that end, I'd start with the writing standard. Pick one..."Write Arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence", then find the app that helps you do that. And again, I say "the app", not "several apps", because the engagement will blossom when students can work together as much as possible. Let the choice be about how many other students they can work with, not how many apps they can opt in to. If you have one app for each stage of the writing process, I think you're sufficiently covering your bases.
Just my two cents, take it or leave it. It's great to see how excited you are to implement ipads into your classroom; for many, that's a daunting task outside of their comfort zone.
-Mac
I like the way you worded your problem of practice at the beginning of your paper. I think you really captured the reason why incorporating technology into writing instruction has become important. I understand the value of teaching formal writing, but at the same time, how often will students actually need to write formal, handwritten papers outside of school? Students are much more likely to need to know how to use computer programs and emails to write and share messages rather than having to write out formatted, multi-paragraph essays. The integration of technology into writing is extremely important for becoming college and career ready in this 21st century, digital age.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I feel like there needs to be a more specific explanation of how you are going to use these tools to improve writing instruction. I agree that the apps you mentioned are useful, but there is little explanation expressing exactly how you are going to use them. The way your key assignment is worded right now, the apps seem to be more at the substitution/augmentation level rather than the redefinition level you are aiming for. The difference between these is the way you choose to use the apps in the classroom. One of the key things to remember is these apps are not necessarily one size fits all. Dragon Dictation may be an amazing redefining tool for an ESOL or resource student who struggles to express his thoughts and get them down on paper. However, an above grade-level student who does not really need to have their thoughts written down for them will not benefit from using Dragon Dictation. I think the apps you chose should be used to help individualize students' needs. If the app is not a necessity for improving a child's writing, don't use it or find an app that may better suit their needs.
I think the other key that you mentioned but did not elaborate on is collaboration. Are you going to use small groups/peer editing/think-pair-share techniques to help students improve their own writing? Students need to be given power goals that is within their grasp to master. Once students reach one of their goals, give them another one to work towards achieving. Make sure you are ultimately putting the learning in their hands.
I would just be careful and constantly monitor to make sure these apps are actually improving their writing and not just being used for the sake of having technology during writing time. Overall, I think your plan is good and and with careful execution can really change the way you teach and students learn important writing skills. Good luck with the new SCCCR standards this year! I haven't examined the new writing standards super closely yet but hopefully they are not a tremendous change from last year's standards. ;)
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI thought your problem of practice was stated in a clear concise manner that immediate notifies us about what you are working on. I think your problem and approach to solving this problem is a crucial one. With the addition of more technology in the classroom, good writing skills are sometimes lost. Computers and the lingo that comes along with it can sometimes teach students bad habits. I believe your plan is a good one and the use of technology can show students that technology and good writing can go hand in hand.
ReplyDeleteIt is cool that you have options for each section of your plan and how you will address these categories. The different types of writing and brainstorming are well selected and you seem to cover each with ideas. I was wondering if you plan to narrow down each to the best option and use that or try a few tools for each one. I see advantages to both. Students would get to know new apps more in depth and become familiar with them. Assuming you pick the best for your class for each then they would also be learning in the most effective way and using the best out there. It could also be valuable to expose them to many options and types so they know what is out there and learn new techniques as well as how to be flexible. I was just curious if this was something you had considered and was curious to hear your thoughts. I would also be interested to hear more about the groups you are going to use and what kind of work or tools you will use during this period of the class.
I think you have chosen good tools and apps to help your students with their writing. Technology being used to increase creativity and engage your students is a great idea. It is difficult to sometimes stay focused on the goal and what you are using the technology for, so make sure it is being used at the right times and for the appropriate lessons. Keep up the good work and I hope your work goes great.
You make a very valid point about bringing your writing into the 21st century. I completely agree with you on that. Reviewing the “Citizenship” of technology is very important because they need to know what the good and the bad are when it comes to the internet. Will each student have their own individual goal and how will you keep track and monitor that? I think that the students would benefit from collaborating with the peers because their peers could possibly give them some ideas that they haven’t thought about. The apps that you have mentioned seem like they are very simple apps that elementary students would be able to use. How long is your writing time and how long do you anticipate it will take to finish one project? Overall I think the direction that you are going is fantastic and you and your students are very fortunate to have access to such great technology.
ReplyDelete