As I gradually introduced more technology into my writing program, I quickly discovered that many, too many, students were not buying into it. They ABSOLUTELY love browsing through Youtube videos looking for the latest "challenges" and pranks, but beyond that, they didn't see much use for their Chromebooks. A bulky, expensive pencil.
I needed to come up with a strategy that would not only grasp my kids attention, but hold onto it for the duration of the semester. The online writing tools I chose were researched thoroughly before I introduced them to my class. I used myself as a guinea pig since I have the attention span and tech skills of a moth. I like my technology easy to handle and bright and colorful. If the app was too clunky or confusing to navigate through, I tossed it. When I plan my writing lessons, I think of several aspects: the content, the style, the genre and the success criteria (previously known as the rubric). The online writing platform I use must meld smoothly with my objectives. I learned through my exploration that some apps are perfect for some writing projects (e.g. Storybird > fictional picture books, Pixton> graphic novels) while others are a bit of a stretch (e.g. Storybird > nonfiction research paper). I can't see my teaching practice reverting back to the pre-TPACK era. Technology plays a vital role in today's evolving writing operations. More than ever, it is extremely important to teach students how to maneuver through written communication on and off the internet. Our world is constantly changing; so should our teaching practice.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Tess Giner
This is my 25th year as a public school teacher. I've taught every grade between Kindergarten and 12th grade. I hope to encourage my students to love writing and reading as much as I do. Archives
July 2019
Categories |