Week 3: Multiple technology

Anup_Ghosh - Oct 11, 2009 7:59 am (1.)
Using Multiple Technologies to teach Writing
"To her fair works did Nature link
The human soul that through me ran;
And much it grieved my heart to think
What Man has made of Man."------------I cannot help quoting from Written in Early Spring. But with a difference. Science and technology with multimedia has brought about a sea -change in our lives. Willy-nilly, we have to accept to transform or perish, at best to come to a standstill. Hence, the need for Digital literacy is felt.
'Textured Literacy' is the ability to comfortably use and combine print, spoken, visual digital processes in composing a piece of writing.
Digital Literacy is the ability to use graphic elements, such as bulletins, picturesque images, and PowerPoint presentations into writing processes.
I have been trying to hone this skill for myself. But not so far not with my ss for lack of proper facilities, though our ss are computer literate. In a large class, too large, this kind of ICT is not feasible.

Abdesalam_Zouita - Oct 13, 2009 3:20 pm (1.3)
Hello Anup,
I think you have abundant conditions to make ICT feasible in your classroom: literate students, being a motivated teacher. These two pillars are of good help to you with a single screen or laptop. In addition, it is understood from you email that the connection is handy in your surrounding through cybercafé or connection at home. Thus, you are lucky.
If not do you have any constraint to using ICT in your classroom, such as crowded classroom, long syllabus, national curriculum restriction..?
Abdesalam


Hasnaa_Al-hajri - Oct 12, 2009 9:11 pm (2.)
- In my opinion, Using technology is the best thing ever happened to me as well as James A. Kulik represent in his article and the given studies that show how much development that any student can gain from using digital technology to enrich their way of textured literacy as James A. Kulik have mentioned . In such technology I totally agree that, you can easily revise and edit your writing where you can stay organized out of the mess that happened from some of the students if they write by pen and paper.
What does the writer mean by the term 'Textured Literacy, I think he wants to emphasis on the idea of using different ways to learn and teach writing skills and develop it to a better one.
- the different forms and aspects of Digital Literacy that can help teach writing are, wiki, blog, and Microsoft Word, picture programs such as photo story writing prompts, word processor, computer enrichment programs such as publisher, e-mail, monitored chat rooms, enhancement programs of video ,The Internet its self.

- Actually, I like the idea of using technology in teaching. so, I produce so many of lessons and things to develop writing skills of my students for example, I all the time use word process to get students write better and use other programs like PowerPoint to show the students how to write then let them do the same in their own way. The best and my favorite technology is making cartoons which help students to write better especially writing stories and about themselves then let the Ss to imitate the cartoon and develop their own one and produce a similar one regarding their own topic. In addition to these, I am using different programs to help also.

Abdesalam_Zouita - Oct 13, 2009 3:27 pm (2.3)
Dear Hasnaa,
Are you using only “word process” format or are you connect you many lessons to any website or pages? I meant are you using your lessons plans interactively with web .0.2. Concerning the cartoon story, have you shared them with your colleagues? Is there any possibility o share one with us via our forum of iEARN?
Thanks
Abdesalam

Hasnaa_Al-hajri - Oct 14, 2009 1:33 am (2.3.1)
Dear Abdesalam, appreciate your thoughts and responses I use everything I can find in the computer including net and websites. I'm going to post and share some of my stories and cartoon here with U .
Hasnaa Al-Hajri
Oman

Mayaa_Al-habsi - Oct 13, 2009 7:49 am (3.)
1. What does the writer mean by the term 'Textured Literacy'?
It means the ability to comfortably use and combine print, spoken, visual, and digital processes in composing a piece of writing. That means the ability to use the technology in writing.

2. What are the different forms and aspects of Digital Literacy that
can help teach writing?
1. Electronic portfolio
2. Digital portfolio
3. Using visual imagery

3. Share your own experiences of using digital technologies for teaching writing or to develop your own writing skills.
To tell you about my experiences in using technology, I asked my students to use the computers to check the spelling before submitting their writing. I sometimes use some websites to check my writing as well.

Abdesalam_Zouita - Oct 13, 2009 3:08 pm (3.2)
Hello Mayaa,
Could you please, tell us how do you use Websites to check your own writing?
Could you please, give us the links to those websites?
Do your students submit their writing online or on paper based assignment?
Thanks

Abdesalam_Zouita - Oct 13, 2009 1:39 pm (4.)
As my colleagues have already mentioned, Kathleen Blake Yancey says “I call textured literacy- the ability to comfortably use and combine print, spoken, visual, and digital processes in composing a piece of writing” It is a way to benefit from all learning styles including: kinesthetic, tactile, visual and auditory. The author also mentions “visual literacy” where students use graphic element to put into print the verbal feedback of the teacher. Students may create digital portfolio, which could be enhanced by “hyper linking”, visual imagery, which are two different forms and aspects of Digital Literacy that can help to teach writing. It is inspiring students to write effectively by the use of new technology without hampering their achievement. There is a need to encourage hesitant students via these attractive high-tech apparatus. After all, we have to boost digital writing as means of helping students express themselves successfully and use the tools that they are obsessed with; it is our digital age.
Abdesalam


Farah_Kamal - Oct 14, 2009 12:25 am (4.1)
Country Coordinator
Abdesalam, interesting you have formed links to Multiple Intelligences as well. Great point.
Farah

Abdesalam_Zouita - Oct 14, 2009 2:49 am (7.)
Experience with Multiple Technologies
Personally, to develop my own writing skills and improve my students’ writing performance, I have been using digital technologies intensely since 2005 starting from my first course online about critical thinking. I have created Yahoo and Google Groups, wikis, WebPages, and blogs. All these are web 0.2. Between November 2008 and July 2009, I have an outstanding course online “MUVEnation” I have learn about web 0.3. It is multi-user of virtual environmental. It is a combination of moodle and second life, resulting in sloodle. I am intending to use it with my students this year, especially after this Language art course online. My previous experience with digital technologies has shown great improvement of my students’ knowledge and skills. I have even an experience with some Crestwood High School students, in Ohio. I have conducted a research paper and an action research to share the result of using these tools with my colleagues.
Abdesalam


tubi_naz - Oct 14, 2009 4:26 am (7.1)
good going we are impressed ,definitely you are going to be a great facilitator
for us in future ,by the way great explorer cum researcher


Farah_Kamal - Oct 15, 2009 4:33 am (7.2)
Abdesalam, you seem to have a rich and hands on experience of textured literacy. Thank you for sharing them here with the rest of the group.
Farah

Abdesalam_Zouita - Nov 7, 2009 12:51 pm (7.2.1)
Dear Farah,
Thank you so much for your encouraging comments.
I do appreciate you kind of moderation. You are teaching us a lot.
Salam