Teaching with Technology

Feeling frustrated at having to repost this right now.... My own fault....


The purpose of today's class was to get everyone a little more comfortable with using technology in teaching English. I wanted to go beyond Gilmore's use of technology in the revision process. Instead, I wanted to show that technology can be used creatively by Language Arts instructors. I can't stress enough that these technologies do not require a "dumbing down" of the curriculum. In fact, using these technologies actually emcompass more state standards than traditional writing instruction.

You're already familiar with wikis and blogs, so I will leave those out of this discussion.

Digital Storytelling
Digital storytelling is a multimodal (multimedia?) production using a combination of text, images, voice narration, perhaps video, and usually music to tell a story. Digital storytelling has become a very popular way for pre-interns to explain why they went into teaching. However, digital storytelling can be a powerful took in the language arts classroom because of its dual role of presentation and production. Students can use digital storytelling to present poetry, biographies, autobiographies, book reports, ethnographies, and even research projects.

Center for Digital Storytelling
Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling
Digital Storytelling at Electronic Portfolio.org


Podcasting
Podcasts are video or audio productions meant to be uploaded to a portable device on demand. Much like digital storytelling, podcasts are a creative way for students to express themselves. Even the common book report is more interesting when done as a podcast.

Examples of student podcasts at MSU
Amphitheater High School podcasts
Marion Beat


e-Portfolios
E-Portfolios allow students to maintain and organize their work over the course of a semester, a year, or even their high school careers. The advantage that e-portfolios have over hard copy portfolios is the ease of incorporating multimedia content. Students can include essays, yes, but also podcasts, pictures, videos, and hypertext poetry.

Electronic Portfolios.Org
ePortfolios Portal
Beacon Charter High School for the Arts


A good place to start is Allen Webb's Techno English Blog. It was based on his Teaching with Technology class.

Registration form for Linda Christensen Conference

I don't think we can upload files to Blogger. (If I'm wrong, please let me know how to do it.)

However, I have uploaded the registration form to our E-Learning site (check under content) and our Wikispace (Teaching Writing in Grades 7-12).

Please remember that attendance at the scholarly talk on Thursday, March 20th and the miniconference Friday, March 21st is mandatory. You will not have to pay to attend, however. We have money in our lab fund to cover your attendance.

If you cannot attend one or both of the conference events because of another class, please let me know so we can come up with an alternative plan.

This is me nearly every day

It's nice to know that I am not the only bad grad student out there.

At least there is one fictional cartoon character who knows my daily plight:

And I'm doing it again right now.

Poetry in Kalamazoo

It was requested of me that I post information about some local poetry events in case any of you would like to attend some.

Here you are:


A local website that has all the information you need about local poetry events is: PAKZOO.org
You can start there. There is a calendar function to keep track of shows.

Here are some locations

Every Monday from 8:00 to 10:00 PM
Papa Pete's Coffee Bar
502 South Burdick Street (corner of Cedar)
Poetry Slam and Open Mic with various hosts

The third Monday of the month from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Papa Pete's Coffee Bar
502 South Burdick Street
Youth Poetry Slam with Chris Bullmer

The first Wednesday of the month from 8:00 to 10:00 PM
Dino's Coffee Lounge
773 West Michigan Street
Poetry Slam and Open Mic with Todd Bannon

The first Friday of the month
Fire
1249 Portage Street
Open Mic and Feature Poet
Website: Fire