Writing+for+a+Broader+Audience

Focus on Digital Media ELA Secondary Main Page | Writing for a Broader Audience | Communicating with Multimedia   English Language Arts |  Standards Slider | Video Resources

= Writing for a Broader Audience =
 * How can we create an authentic audience for student writing?toc
 * How can students collaborate on and share writing products?
 * How can writing assignments simulate the types of writing needed in college and career?
 * How can digital media be used to enhance final products for a new era of online publication?

**Anchor Standard**
Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and to interact and collaborate with others.

ELA Standard W.9-10.6.  Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology’s capacity to link to other information and to display information flexibly and dynamically.

QuickWrite Activity

= Differentiated Text = Jason Ohler: From Essay to Media Collage

Writing projects created and published with digital media should include what is known as **//differentiated text//** or //**visually differentiated text (VDT).**// Differentiated text includes the 7 B's as outlined by Jason Ohler:
 * 1) breaks - add blank lines between paragraphs by simple pressing return
 * 2) banners - my word for paragraph titles; introduce paragraphs now and again so that your writing is scannable
 * 3) bullets - using the bullet command in Word, blog editors, etc.
 * 4) boldface - boldfacing titles, etc.
 * 5) beginnings - providing the first paragraph of a longer piece and a link to the entire piece
 * 6) beyond monochromatic text - use text of a different color, but use it sparingly; avoid being "cartoony"
 * 7) boxes - easy to do in Word, but usually requires a little programming to do for web page development

Here are **my ideas** to augment those of Jason Ohler.
 * Hyperlinks
 * Bold headings and important words
 * Colors for headings at the same level of the outline
 * Embedded documents and multimedia
 * Italics rather than underlining (since underlining indicates a hyperlink)
 * No blue text (since blue text indicates a hyperlink)

Below you will see the contrast of visually differentiated text with the older style of text on a page, all one font, all one color, all the same. Clearly, digital media tools allow for new and more visually appealing writing products.

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= Collaboration =
 * Collaboration and Literacy: The Inseparable Duo
 * 5 Keys to Successful Student Collaborations
 * 10 Steps for Managing Cooperative Project-Based Groups
 * 6 Keys to Successful Collaboration

= Writing in a Digital World = Producing and Publishing with Digital Media: Multimodal Composition

Blogs and OpEd as Essays
Are blogs the new essays and informational texts? literary nonfiction? Are editorials and opinion columns (non-syndicated and syndicated) informational texts? literary nonfiction? Are online comments a new genre?
 * ===Blog Exemplars===
 * New York Times Blogs
 * Young Adult Author Blogs
 * More Author Blogs
 * Blog Evaluation Forms Online
 * ===Articles about Blogging in the Classroom===
 * Blogging is the New Persuasive Essay
 * Research on Blogging to Improve Writing Skills
 * Blogging in the Classroom: Why Your Students Should Write Online
 * Why Students Should Learn to Write for the Public
 * How to Create Successful Student Blogging
 * Blogs vs Term Papers
 * Response to Blogs vs Term Papers
 * ===Editorial and OpEd Examples===
 * Syndicated Columnists
 * New York Times Columnists
 * Hutchinson News Editorials
 * This could be adapted for different levels:
 * Syndicated Columnist AP Assignment PDF
 * ===**Opposing Viewpoints**===
 * Pros and Cons of Controversial Issues
 * ===Commenting on Online Writing===
 * Blog Comment Etiquette
 * Discussion Forms in Moodle
 * Chats in Moodle
 * ===**Considerations**===
 * Audience
 * Purpose
 * Perspective
 * Style
 * Credentials
 * Credentials

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= Online Tools for Writing and Collaborating = How can students work individually or collaboratively on writing projects? How can this writing be enhanced with digital media?

10 Tech Tools to Effectively Teach the Common Core Standards Google Docs Foster Collaboration and Creation While Addresses Common Core Standards Making the Most of Google Docs and Google Drive
 * === Buhler Docs ===

Log on to Buhler Docs from the this link or the school web pages. Every teacher and student already has an account (grades 4-12). Create **documents** and **presentations** online. Create **flow charts** and **drawings** online individually or collaboratively Create **websites** with **Google Sites.** Create n**arrated slideshows** in Buhler Docs using **Slide Rocket.** Create wikis for classes and individuals to share and collaborate. Always begin at the Wikispaces link for educators to have ad-free wikis with upgraded features without cost. Create student blogs using Google Sites, Edublogs, Kidblog, or Classpress.
 * Collaborate** with others in creating documents and presentations.
 * Google Drawing Tutorial Videos
 * 5 Ways to Use Google Sites in School
 * Getting Started with Google Sites
 * Google Sites Tutorial Videos
 * **Log in to Buhler Docs** and go to **More**.
 * Pull down to select **Slide Rocket**.
 * This will **automatically create an account** for each student.
 * Do not go to Slide Rocket directly. Always go through Buhler Docs.
 * === Wikispaces Wikis ===
 * Wikspaces Tutorial Videos
 * Example:
 * Research Comes to Life
 * === Blog Tools ===
 * Blogging with **Google Sites**
 * Google Sites is free and part of Buhler Docs.
 * In Buhler Docs, click on Sites at the top of the page.
 * Use the Announcements page template for the blog pattern.
 * Create a Blog with Google Sites
 * Getting Started with Google Sites
 * Google Sites Tutorial Videos
 * Blogging with **EduBlogs**
 * Edublogs Webpage
 * Free blogs may not serve our purpose. Consider getting an EDU license.
 * Students must be at least age 13.
 * Consider Laurian Williams' Edublog experiences from Summer 2012
 * Blogging with **Kidblog**
 * Kidblog Webpage
 * Set up classes with no age restrictions or student email addresses needed.
 * 200 students can be added per class blog.
 * Blogging with **Classpress**
 * Classpress Webpage
 * Set up classes with no age restrictions or student email addresses needed.
 * Students LOVE the features and fun effects provided.
 * Cost is $29.00 per teacher, but we have shared one Classpress account with 3 teachers at BHS.
 * No limit on number of students.

Narrated Images and Slides
Narrate essays and other writing products using these tools.
 * **Slide Rocket in Buhler Docs**
 * **Log in to Buhler Docs** and go to **More**.
 * Pull down to select **Slide Rocket**.
 * This will **automatically create an account** for each student.
 * Do not go to Slide Rocket directly. Always go through Buhler Docs
 * **Voice Thread - BHS only**
 * Log in to Buhler's EDU Voicethread at []
 * Students already have accounts created.
 * Upload images, PDFs, videos, etc.
 * Narrate each slide.
 * Look at examples from BHS and PHMS.

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Video Essays
Create videos based on essays and other writing projects. Narrate by reading the work and illustrate with images or movie files in iMovie 09 (Macs) or Moviemaker (Windows PCs). Some video essays rely upon images and captions rather than narration.
 * Article: Video Essays are Hot Topic in College Admissions
 * Article: UD Applicants May Submit Video Essay
 * Real Sample Essays for College Application Videos
 * Examples on School Tube: Video Essays

= Research Ideas and Alternatives to Notecards = Bonus Feature! Thinking Outside the Box Notecard...
 * Research Paper Organizer
 * An Alternative to Notecards
 * Notetaking
 * Paperless Research
 * Blogs vs Term Papers
 * Response to Blogs vs Term Papers
 * Is the Research Paper a Dead Art?

= Standards Slider = media type="custom" key="20452904" View Slider on the Web

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= Facilitator =