For my open entry I would like to spend some time thinking about using digital texts in the classroom. I've mentioned before in a previous entry that I feel a slight dilemma when it comes to teaching students to craft digital texts versus traditional ones, but I have come to the realization that it is more of a disservice to not allow or teach these.
There are a few problems that I need to work through before I am able to integrate these types of meaningful assignments into my teaching. First, there is the obvious problem of lacking the technology. In my school, there is one computer lab, this lab houses the technology class and the computer applications class, leaving zero periods open when I teach. The only other option is checking to see if All City, the other school in Marshall would allow us to use their lab, but again, availability may not work out even if they would allow it. Looks like I will have to appeal to my administrators like we did in our mock digital presentation!
Another issue I would have to work through is learning enough about digital texts so I can guide my students. After reading Hicks (2013) and his chapters on crafting digital presentations, audio texts, videos, and social media, I realized I have a lot to learn! Especially after reading the last two chapters, 6 and 7, I feel under pressure to be able to undertsand and give my students the opportunity to create in these forms. I feel like this can be the key to unlocking engagement and motivation, and deepening their content knowledge.
I do not know enough about the programs and software needed for many of these types of assignments, but luckily Hicks (2013) does provide a wide range of resources and tips. I think the first step is playing around.
The next issue I would face would be when to use such a project and set guidelines and a timetable for it. How do I determine when a traditional assignment would be a better assessment and product to display new knowledge, than a digital text? How do I ensure purpose and audience? How do match thoughtful intelligent instruction without getting too caught up in the technical aspect?
I know that my students would be engaged, but would they be able to maintain focus on content while playing with the technology? Hicks (2013) provides many methods for assessments, and what I like about his methods is that they involve student reflection, peer feedback, annotations and comments, basically they involve writing, so my original fear that traditional writing would be far too absent from the class is uncalled for. Hicks also stresses to have students start out by planning the video or digital text without even coming close to a computer. I think this would be an appropriate balance, planning on paper, creating with the technology, then reflecting on paper, and so on. A recursive process.
Two more problems I would have to address before I approached teaching these types of texts are teaching how to be critical readers on the interent and citing their sources. I know these can be broken down to explicit mini-lessons, but they seem like time-consuming and difficult lessons to capture in a mini-lesson.
One things for certain, I need to figure out a way to give the opportunity to my students to create digital texts, I know they would amaze me with their abilities.
Casey this is a great start to understanding your general reservations and prior concerns for designing digital literacy lessons for your students. What would be great is if you could choose a specific type of digital writing you think would be a useful media to teach your students and use an entry to try and map out how you would actually design a series of lessons that would aid students' digital craft. For example, if you use Hicks' models as a guide, how could you also design mini-lessons at the drafting stage, revising stage and editing stage in order to help them develop video texts?
ReplyDeleteCasey, I thought for a moment I was reading my own writing as I read this post. I feel almost the exact way you do. Technology has so much to offer to our students and in a reciprocal manner, students have so much to offer technology. But the concern here is- how can we be offered technology? I think you discuss some very important points about lacking the means of using technology and also lacking the knowledge to teach and use technology. I will be using your post here for my Entry 11- Bless, Press, and Address. I hope you read it.
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