This second session took us deeper into using Writer’s Workshop process with Google.Docs. Judi Mathot emphasized that it is important to keep the mini lesson specific and allow time for students to share their samples to the class. This teacher community is now using Google.Docs to develop their plans and give feedback to each other.
Google.docs has its nuances such as it likes to convert Word into google language which sometimes will change initial formatting. We learned quickly that Google.Docs quickly strips text boxes.
Click here for 6-Traits of Writing docs.
Homework for next session:
- create a new folder in google.docs called “writers workshop”
- organize google pages in the above folder
- hide these google pages so that they no loner appear in the master google list
- remember F5 will refresh your list
Time permitting, please read sections that apply to Digital Writing Tools:
- Chapter 3, “Conferring Through Blogs, Wikis, and Collaborative Word Processors”
- Chapter 6, “Enabling Assessment over Time with Digital Writing Tools”
- Please take the opportunity to response to any of the following:
- What do you wonder about?
- What resounates with you?
- What intrigued you?
- What questions do you still have?
The whole idea of using the technologies mentioned in Chapter 3 (wikis, blogs, collaborative word processing) is completely new to me, but very exciting. I like the thought of students being able to use computers and the internet as a learning tool, and not just for social networking and games. The expectation that teachers are always accessible, is a scary one. There is also a concern that students may use this inappropriately, especially when commenting on each others work. I guess it is all dependent on the expectations that you set, and making sure you stick to them. I’m excited to begin exploring technology as a tool for enhancing what I am already doing in the classroom, and making it relevant to the technological world our students are growing up in.