Teaching Two Literacies

Describe an activity that we have done this semester that has prepared you to teach "two literacies".

Edmodo by far was an excellent example of teaching 'two literacies'.  The collaborative part of the story process allowed the Middle School students to expand their stories by building on another's ideas.  I find this concept extremely fascinating.  Most companies become successful because employees are able to work together to create innovative projects.  Collaborating in school helps prepare an individual to accept outside ideas and continue to build on them.  I would like to see our society value more collaboration efforts over individual achievements.  Its an old idea that is worth revisiting but I digress.  In other words, I think collaborative storytelling helped to create excitement in an otherwise not so exciting subject area for students.  As our graphs and Denise's survey's proved, students were more up to the challenge of story writing when it came to collaborating with another individual.  


Likewise, concluding the collaborative story by morphing it into a digital story was an excellent example of 21st Century writing.  It literally lifted the story from 2D print to 3D action.  All at the same time developing computer literacy skills.


I would most certainly use these two ideas in my class sessions. They both developed an interest in the subject and met fundamental computer literacy skills. 

Name an National Education Technology Standard for Teachers that this activity meets.

I believe Edmodo met the entire first standard under the ISTE/NETS for the exact reasons I listed above.  Edmodo developed an interest in the subject and it helped build computer literacy skills.  In addition, I believe it helped creativity.  Building on another's ideas and selecting pictures and videos for a digital story requires a bit of imagination.  I definitely saw these attributes in several of the creations the Middle School students stories. 

The First Standard under the ISTE/NETS is as follows:
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

              Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.

b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.

d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.

Edmodo and my thoughts....

What is Edmodo?
Edmodo is a private microblogging platform that teachers and students can use to send notes, links, files, alerts, assignments, and events to each other.

I like the use of  Edmodo as a literary tool.  It is a secure way for students to create their stories in an Internet enviornment.  I also like the fact that the students were able to develop a story with selected members outside of the classroom and then take these stories and use translate them into digital stories. I  also like the fact the students were able to receive 'safe' feedback from chosen individuals outside the classroom.  I think it is excellent practice in collaboration, as well as, practice before students eventually start posting materials publically. 

I think the Fairview Middle School students did an excellent job on their stories.  Obviously, they are still learning to develop and hone their skills but for the most part their teacher is taking them down the right road for learning these skills.  I am impressed that the teacher is integrating technology into the learning curriculum.

As with their writing skills, their communication skills are something they are developing in this class as per the mission statement of their teacher.  I thought many of the students were very articulate of their feelings towards the FSU students work.  I was even more impressed that many of them did not seem overly nervous.  Being able to articulate one's thoughts and feelings is a step in the right direction towards developing critical thinking skills.

I would consider using Edmodo in my science class.  Mostly for the fact that I think it is a good setting to practice technology skills.  I could see my students using it to document science related hypotheses and experiements.  I also think that it would be very motivational to link to university students the same way our class linked to the middle school students.  University students through Edmodo could become very good mentors towards public school students in any cirriculum.