Beyond Word Processing – Technology in the English Classroom

Freyja BergthorsonLoudoun County Public SchoolsFreyja.Bergthorson@loudoun.k12.va.us

Wordle.net

In this session…Where I’m from… background information

Assignment #1 – set the stage analyze & connectPSA – analyze & createAnimalsDrink & DriveDarth VaderDigital essays (My Friends / Brain Surgery)Student choice (451 hand/trailer/song)Traditional Literary assignments, with a modern twist – “The Bells”

Brief discussion & video presentation of 21st Century LiteracyWhat’s a Wiki Google DocsWordle.net

Examples of classroom applications & student work

On a piece of paper, jot down an answer to the

following question –

What did it mean to be literate when you graduated from high school?

Now answer this one…

What does ‘to be literate’ mean for students for students who will graduate from high school in the 21st Century?

The NCTE Definition of 21st Century Literacies

Adopted by the NCTE Executive Committee, February 15, 2008Literacy has always been a collection of cultural and communicative practices shared among members of particular groups. As society and technology change, so does literacy. Because technology has increased theintensity and complexity of literate environments, the twenty-first century demands that a literate person possess a wide range of abilities and competencies, many literacies. These literacies—from reading online newspapers to participating in virtual classrooms—are multiple, dynamic, and malleable. As in the past, they are inextricably linked with particular histories, life possibilities and social trajectories of individuals and groups.

Twenty-first century readers and writers need to

• Develop proficiency with the tools of technology• Build relationships with others to pose and solve problems collaboratively and

cross-culturally• Design and share information for global communities to meet a variety of

purposes• Manage, analyze and synthesize multiple streams of

simultaneous information• Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate multi-media texts• Attend to the ethical responsibilities required by these complex

environments

The Changing Face of Information – Who is in control? (Blogs / Wikis…)

DIGITAL NATIVES ARE CONSTANTLY EXPOSED TO

MESSAGESIf anyone can create & publish material for anyone to see, the ability to read critically is more important than ever & involves the analysis and interpretation of more than just text.

WHO ARE THESE DIGITAL NATIVES?

How can we engage them in the English classroom?

Digital Natives

While we teach whatever we

teach at school, the kids go

home and learn the skills they

need to survive and prosper in

an interconnected

global economy.Clarence Fisher

Digital Natives Need… to create using technologies they

view as relevant / real world choices that respect their learning

styles & interests to create individually and in

collaboration with others to tell their own stories access to high quality information &

the ability to critically evaluate information

guidance / rubrics / high expectations

Critical Reading Thinking critically about information

involves more than just reading text.

Video can be used to engage students in the same thinking skills they need to practice to improve reading.

Skills can be transferred to ‘traditional’ reading assignments.

Assignment #1 Critical response – Ordinary People, Extra Ordinary Things Instructions for the assignment – read all instructions & rubric before starting!

1. Save this document to your English folder. Name it "Your Name assignment 1".

2. Find the link Ordinary People, Extraordinary Things on the website, click to open the video clip – this will take several minutes.

3. While waiting for the video to load, type your name, date and block in the upper right hand corner of this paper. Save again!

4. Read the response questions.

5. View the video – you may view it again if necessary, but you have only this class period to complete the assignment.

6. Type your answers to each of the questions below. Save after answering each question. Proofread them for

clarity and mechanics (you may also use spell-check). Save again!

7. When you are fully satisfied that you have produced your best effort (check the rubric below), delete these instructions, leaving only your responses to the questions below on the page. Be sure your response fits on one page (if it is on two pages you’ll need to put your heading at the top of the second page too).

Critical Response Questions – See rubric for requirements What is the purpose of the video? What is the main idea the producers want the viewer to get from watching the video? Who was the intended audience? Be specific & support your answer. How did the selection of music, images and text support this purpose? Do you think this video was successful in its purpose? Why or why not? If you were going to add another person to this video, who would you add and why? 50 points (A) 45 points (B) 40 points (C ) 35 points (D) All directions followed, answers complete, well thought out and expressed. Writing meets FSMS standards. Assignment complete.

All directions may have been followed, answers may require revision for clarity. Writing meets FSMS standards. Assignment complete.

Some directions may have been followed, some answers may need revision, most FSMS writing standards met. Assignment may be complete.

Some directions may have been followed, some answers may need revision, most FSMS writing standards met. Assignment not complete.

Ordinary People

Digital Narratives• Take a ‘traditional essay’ in a new directions

• Creates a product that showcases student interests and talents

• Provides opportunities for practicing composition & communication

skills

• Engages even reluctant students in the writing

process

• End up on thumb-drives, not trash bins

When I was two years old, my parents discovered that I had a brain problem, but they didn’t know that the problem was seizures until the second grade, when they took me to see a doctor. The seizures worsened due to the flipping that occurred in some of the exercises.

 • I had to remain in the hospital for a total of nine weeks. During those nine weeks, I had three surgeries. The first was to locate the problem, the second was to remove the problem, and the third was to remove an infection I had obtained in the second surgery.

Healing

After the surgeries there was a long healing phase I had to make it through. I had to wear a large bandage and a unique helmet at all times. I also could not participate in any physical activities. Even after all that, I haven’t had a seizure in over four years.

Aftermath– The reason these surgeries

had to be done even though they were life threatening was because, if I didn’t have these surgeries, I would never be able to drive a car, ride a bicycle, play sports, or even do daily activities without risking injury to myself or others. So I am very thankful I survived and am here today.

MY FRIENDS

My friends mean the world to me. Without friends I wouldn’t be the same. I have a lot of friends but these are some of my closest. There’s Bailey in the upper left, Jenny in the upper right, and Leanna on the bottom.

BAILEY

First there’s Bailey! She is my best friend ever. She has always been there for me through the good times and the bad times. Not only is she my best friend but she is also my neighbor. She lives right down the street from me. Since we live so close we do so many activities together. We go to guitar together, we hang outside all the time and listen to loud music to annoy our very annoying neighbors.

Bailey’s personality is very easy to sum up. She’s wild and crazy happy and has the best sense of humor. Her three loves in life are food, music (as in AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, and Led Zeppelin) and her favorite guinea pig named Pig.

LEANNA Next is my other best friend Leanna! I have been friends with Leanna since 5th grade. She is a great person to laugh with and always has something to say. You can talk to her about anything and she will always listen.

Leanna like to laugh and just have a good time. She is a little more quiet in school but out side of school she is wild and crazy. Leanna is very athletic and like soccer and basketball the best. Playing kickball outside with Leanna and her neighbors is so much fun.

To sum it up Leanna is just, Leanna!

JENNY I have known Jenny since we were 4 years old. Ever since I have known her we have been eating candy. Jenny lives near me so we can hang out a lot.

Jenny is a very nice person with a great personality. Some of Jenny’s favorite activities are to talk on her phone, and sing (she is a good singer by the way!) Jenny likes her dog buddy too. It is the dog she always wanted.

CONCLUSION

My friends are all very special to me and make me laugh non stop.

With out their funny personalities and great sense of humor I don’t know what I would do.

Now as you can see this is what makes my friends my friends.

Interpreting Media Messages – Public Service AnnouncementsStudents must be able to interpret and evaluate media messages – Analyzing and creating Public Service Announcements

Persuasive Writing - PSA

Animals

Don’t Drink & Drive

Don’t Bully

Anti-smoking

PSA PSA

Beyond Book Reports

Movie Trailers – selective information, relevant medium

Responsible use of social networking – a basic life skill!

Freyja.Bergthorson@

Loudoun.k12.va.us