Writing and Technology Integration

 

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/2188275/awp_ideas

The Appleseed Writing Project Summer Institute is well underway and teachers are immersed in their writer's life.  It is great to see the teachers embrace the writing process through a variety of reading/writing opportunities.  Participants had a chance to complete a 3, 2, 1 activity at the beginning of the E-Anthology presentation.  I asked the teachers to write down 3 emotions that come to mind when they hear the word technology.  Those feelings were listed here to create this wordle image.

Wikispaces for Teachers

The 2009 Appleseed Writing Project Conference is a buffet of writing opportunities this year. Our keynote speaker, Harvey Daniels, will be energizing the participants with techniques that educators, K-16 will be able to take back to their classrooms on Monday morning.
I am excited about teaching teachers how to create a wikispace for the classroom at Wikispaces for Teachers website during my session in the afternoon. Please click on this link http://inarteducators.wikispaces.com/Wikispaces+for+the+Classroom to view an example of how a wikispace can be used to create a resource list and agenda.
In addition to sharing several online resources, I will be leading the session in setting up your own wikispace. I hope you will all have a chance to comment here at the TechnoSeeds blog on the relevance of this session at the end of the class.
If you are interested in learning more about blogging, you might take a look at my Art, Writing, and Technology Blog to see the kind of things I have posted there.

Now that the Appleseed Writing Project's 2009 Summer Institute is coming to a close, I asked this year's Teacher Consultants to give a short testimonial to the importance of their participation in the National Writing Project and discuss how this professional development might impact their teaching and perspective on teaching specifically writing in their area of expertise. This is what the 2009 TC's had to share.

"WoW! technology rocks! Technology folks! I did not know until today that there are so many possibilities and so many varieties in using technologies at schools: logs, Wikispaces, Flickr, Tag Gallery, wordle, blogs,...etc. Thanks, Barbara Kuntz."
---I. Kim

"The Writing Project was such a wonderful experience. I am now truly seeing the world through the eyes of a writer. The Summer Institute allowed me to work with talented, creative - just simple awesome colleagues! The students will be the beneficiaries."
Barb

“The Appleseed Writing Project has helped me develop as a writer, and I've been thinking about how that can look as incorporated in technology, too!”
Ashley

“The food in San Antonio was beyond compare, but the food for thought was what truly filled my spirit.”
Amy

“Writing in my classroom will not be the same! It will be more student focused and student driven. I can't wait to bring back the writers' notebook, which I seem to have lost over the years!“
Stacy

"Appleseed Writing Project has provided me with researched based strategies that I know will bring success to my students."
Joe

“My teaching will never be the same. I believe that I am just as important as the English teacher in modeling and teaching using writing. I know I will be a better teacher because of the institute.”
Maryanne

“I have come to appreciate the power of writing and how it can change people's lives. The technology that is at our disposal now is really helpful and makes our life easier, richer, and more creative.”
Irene

”I think the technology presentation gave me a few more resources to use with the techno savvy students that I work with every day. The AWP has really opened my eyes to the ideas that will work with my students on an everyday basis.”
Ali

”Technology in writing can create a sense of power for the student in the modern classroom. It allows them to connect on a level they are comfortable with and find themselves proficient.”
Jon

"I think blogs and wikis are much more interesting than typical school web pages. They add an interactive element. Seems a little more 'democratic'."
Nathan A

“The technology that we were shown was really great because I really didn't know about some of the programs. I really liked the wordle website. The AWP has helped grow my knowledge about writing. I enjoyed sharing my writing and hearing everyone share their writing. The demos helped me think about teaching writing in several areas of my day with my students.”
Kari

“Writing is powerful! I enjoyed refreshing my knowledge of the reading writing connection. Writing helps everyone solidify their thoughts.”
Julie

“As a writer, I feel that I am still a child, but at least I have been born. Before the project, unless it was research, which I love, I did not enjoy writing. I am beginning to find a voice, and that I appreciate. I consider myself fairly technologically diverse. I do not know many programs, but I learn quickly and naturally. I enjoyed learning about wordle today...it is possibly the coolest bit of technology I have seen in a while. Thank you!"
Amanda DeBaillie

Food for the Soul

The River Walk in beautiful San Antonio, Texas was a festive sight for the soul. It is a unique blend of culture and textures. Experiencing bright colorful foods, sounds, and people at the 2008 National Writing Project Conference was a blessing worth sharing. This year I joined several other NWP technology liaisons to take a photo/writing marathon. We brought along our digital cameras to take interesting pictures and wrote about life experiences. The photo above was taken at the first meal I shared with fellow writers from the Appleseed Writing Project. I knew that keeping my digital camera in hand would provide a visual account of this wonderful experience.
Consider taking photos of everyday life to build motivation for writing rich experiences. The photo above gives me a feeling of satisfaction and pleasure mixed with color and excitement. The flavor was magnificent!

See the full PicLit at PicLits.com
Experience another new interactive tool online at PicLit.com . Kevin, a fellow technology explorer, is always introducing me to new online tools. Although I don't explore as much as he does, I love to spread the word. I look forward to using this tool with some of my students.

National Writing Project

I deeply value the professional development opportunities I have gained by becoming a member of the National Writing Project. The previous post, A Day in a Sentence, is a collaborative writing activity conceived by my colleague and fellow NWP technology liaison, Kevin Hodgson. I was honored with the privilege to host A Day in a Sentence this past week. As I reflect on this experience, I am reminded of opportunities provided to me as a member of a much larger community, the National Writing Project. This government supported organization thrives on the revelation that teachers who teach other teachers will effectively develop writing instruction in our schools by becoming better writers. By immersing oneself in the practices needed to be effective mentors, teachers write volumes for varied audiences and purposes from self and/or the person sitting next to them in the summer institute to posting on the World Wide Web. Our moto this summer was "trust the process." Like art, writing can get messy and jumbled at times. After refining technique and shoring up the rough edges, one can effectively express one's perspective in general or specific terms to create a clear image for a desired audience. It is a great feeling to be so empowered!

Day in a Sentence

The release of Day in a Sentence writing activity is here! I owe a huge THANK YOU to all of the writers for their voice this week. There are several images that help tell the stories. I hope you will enjoy our collaborative spirit.

Kevin (image and podcast included) writes,
I'm feeling some Patriotic stirrings now that Bush is on the way out and change in our nation is inevitable.
http://www.box.net/shared/static/34o9szvc4c.mp3

David writes,
Slaving daily over a hot laptop, interspersed only by the demands of dog and family, looking forward to a chilled weekend without the heat.

Rglass says,
Few things worse than summer colds.

Michael writes about the Appleseed Writing Project Summer Institute Open House.
Yesterday, the open house brought together all elements of what we have been doing for a culminating event which we shared with those who might be interested and our own families. Now I am ready to move on with my writing and teaching.

Mary from AWP shares a concise image.
A day in the AWP is a blur of thought, insight, inquiry, and emotion, which eventually clarifies into something profound and equally useful.

AWPer, Gloria, is reminded about her previous blogging.
Technoseeds is new to me. I am happy I am starting to use it. I used to use a blog years ago but I stopped because I did not manage the blog well. Thank you, Barb, for teaching it to us.

AWPer, Judy, changes the Indiana Purdue University at /Fort Wayne acronym into a celebration for her colleagues.
IPFW, I Praise Fellow Writers.

AWPer, Jay, a middle school social studies teacher, writes about the ideas he has gained during the AWP summer institute.
As we prepare to bring our writers' institute to a conclusion I am amazed at how many ideas are coming together and influencing my thinking.

Allison writes thoughts about Appleseed Writing Project Summer Institute.
Read alouds, demos, logs, and creative writing have filled my days and my life with ideas of more effective ways to express myself.

Jacki writes about being a participant in the National Writing Project.
Participation in each day of the summer institute has given my voice volume and permission to be heard.

Marcel writes,
Relationships, silver and gold, were highlighted this week after I was chef on Monday morning.

Amalia shares her thoughts about managing time during the summer institute.
My day is going well! I started my morning with a nice two mile run, which I completed in 35 minutes. It was so relaxing and rewarding. The rewarding section has a lot to do my time. I was overjoyed with my time because lately I have not been running. It was also rewarding to encounter people who greeted me in such a friendly and encouraging manner. They all complemented my pace and made comments such as "Keep it up!" Besides my running, I am glad that I managed to be on time to my wonderful Appleseed Writing Process (class). Yesterday was very embarrassing to be late. I hope my day continues going well!

Jane Swanson (included image) reminds us,
While planning for a weekend of fun in the sun and the excitement of exploding fireworks, I paused to think about the families who have lost loved ones for our country and my privilege to enjoy the freedom for which their sons and daughters have died.

Dkzody writes about being an educator.
Even though I am living at a reduced pace, I still managed to get all my yearbook computers set up for the 2009 book.

Amy Kenyon writes about the 4^th of July.
Tom Petty concert tonight, barbeque with family tomorrow, parade and fireworks on Friday - what a week!

Bill G writes,
Leaving behind the real world to see the world through new lenses as I travel from Pennsylvania, Canada, New York, Vermont, New Jersey, Virginia and back home to the real world. It makes a difference in your outlook on life and things. It recreates your social imagination.

Larry Ferlazzo’s big realization of the week:
I'm teaching English Language Learners during summer school in a room without a screen for the first time -- why did I never think before of projecting on a whiteboard so I, and students, could annotate projected text? It's so much easier than using a transparency.

Sara P-C (included photo) writes,
My favorite tenants in my tiny 4x4 foot garden (thank you Square Foot Gardening and my patient husband...) have to be the miniscule carrot plants, with their thin crab-grass first leaves, crowded into friendly cliques because I was a little overzealous with the post-seeding watering.

samccoy says,
Think of summer as a time for clearing the mind of all the great ideas we have during the school year, a cleansing experience.

Blogger In Middle-earth shares a verbal image with us.
Tall stony pillars in juxtaposition,
Wires in a matrix traversing the vision,
Sparrows perched affably cuddling each other,
Bobbing together,
Cocking their heads to cheer one another,
Scorning the weather.

Tracy found an image from a Brighton street artist named Lasko that she felt depicted her sentence. The direct link to the image is http://www.woostercollective.com/2005/04/24-week/ where you will see the original content posting.

This week, my first week of summer vacation, is lovely yet I find myself already thinking of next school year - I need to remember that I exist outside of teaching because I think that is the only way to put all of myself into my teaching.

Lilya shares her thoughts about motherhood (photo included).
Oh, the proud mother's heart beats faster as her darling little one plays his part at the concert as if it that was all he did!

Matthew writes about the 4^th of July holiday.
Fireworks and hot dogs abound during week one of vacation.

Paul B writes,
Finally figured out who had the last piece of cake after downloading the pictures from the camera--darn kids.

Elona H writes,
This week I've been taking advantage of the cooler weather and spending my time getting caught up on my gardening.

Bk writes,

This week has been all digital for me. Well, not all, there was also the 4th of July to fold in and I hope I did justice to everything. Our SI begins tomorrow and my new DS log goes on display for the group to see. It was fun creating it for sure and now out to the public it goes.
Here's its link:
http://homepage.mac.com/blkdrama/iMovieTheater29.html

J. Hawk bought a hummingbird feeder last week and have lots of hummers feeding...but no pictures yet.
"Put it out, and they will come," I told Mr. Hawke when I put the hummingbird feeder in the Wal-Mart cart. And come they did!

The final sentence was created on the 4th of July by yours truly.
Weeded, trimmed, edged, mowed, exhausted, sore, and satisfied-all in a day's work.

I am happy to be a part of a collaborative community who can come together and create such a rich collection of perspectives.