Chapter 7
Writing with Technologies
Planning, Organizing and Reflecting on writing through visual tools
Components of the writing process:
- Setting goals
- Planning
- Idea organization
- Composition of text
- Editing
Tools
CONCEPT MAPPING
- Plan and organize writing using "concept mapping" software tools; tools that enable the student to identify important concepts, arrange them spatially and identify the relationships among those concepts.
- Concept mapping can function as an effective intentionally planning tool and analysis tool, by providing a visual representation of how ideas are interrelated.
- Concept maps are perfect in helping to generate and organize ideas for writing.
WORD CLOUDS
- Created using an online tool called "Wordle". These word clouds are made up of text, creating images based on the frequency of each word provided by the user. The word used the most is shown in a large font, while the other words used the least surround it in smaller fonts.
- A great tool to be used for reflection and conversation about the text (not to be used as the only tool)
- Recent survey concluded that appx. two-thirds of Wordle users "learn something new" about the text by using Wordle; with over half confirming their understanding of text
Wordle Tutorial
Publishing creative writing with technology
- "Society of authorship": Any person with Internet access can contribute his/her ideas to the body of material on the Internet.
- 64% of teenagers have participated in at least one content-creating activity online; 28% having created their own online journal or blog
- Publishing work for public access inspires many students to take their work more seriously, engaging in a higher level of reflection about their work
Creative writing tools
Blogging
Allows for dialogue among users with posting, commenting and responding; easy creation, and instant publishing.
Benefits for education:
- Takes the classroom experience outside, providing students the opportunity to connect with other learners and experts
- Provides a different learning experience for today's "digital natives"
- Can be a mechanism for student knowledge construction and synthesis as he/she researches to make claims in their blogs
- Motivator for students as they receive feedback from outside readers
Poetry Idea Engine
Tool for building new poems founded on existing poetry
- Provides students with understanding of the different types of poetry
- Guides you in the process of creating your own poem using words you choose, providing the format for each poetry type
Storybird
An extremely fun way to help you create your own book with lots of art
- Has many books for any and every reader allowing students to comment and interact with their creators
- Especially great for an English/Lanaguage Arts class, this online tool takes the understanding of difficult literary text to another level, coupled with fun to allow the student the ultimate experience in being creative with their interpretations of texts.
Writing Collaboratively
Collaborative writing is the joining of multiple people in creating material.
Types of collaborative writing include:
- Intensive collaboration - texts are create by a close knitted group of people
- Significant writing - done separately with writers having limited collaboration
- Sequential group - done via a sequence of activities
Benefits
- Positive relationships among classmates
- Increased participation
- Peer and self-assessment
- "Cross culture fertilization" when students of differing backgrounds and cultures collaborate
Why incorporate technology in the writing process?
These tools allows for writing to actually be fun (or more fun for those of us who enjoy it already!) for students. The use of technology provides students with support and structure for different writing activities using different techniques and tools.
Technology + writing = engaging!
So...
Bibliography
Howland, Jane L., Jonassen, David H, and Marra, Rose M. Meaningful Learning with Technology. Boston, MA: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2012. Print.