Digital+Writing+Workshop+--+Aly+Tapp

**Description:**
Gone are the days when students wrote for an audience of one. With today's digital and collaborative tools, students can create real audience. Teachers can give real-time, formative feedback throughout the writing process. Best of all, when the student publishes, the teacher can provide illustrative personal feedback through the use of screencasting. In this session, participants will learn how to prepare for the shift from paper to paperless, as well as best practices in the management of digital portfolios.

**Presession Work:**
Create a Google Account and an Edmodo account if you do not already have them.

Tools Worth Your Time
Google Apps for Education Edmodo Jing SnagIt (not free) OneWord -- 60 seconds of writing about one word -- Great as a blog post starter!
 * General Info
 * Common Questions
 * My Tech Director Won't Get Onboard with GAFE!
 * Web Address
 * Ideas!
 * Learn It In 5
 * FREE Screencast Tool
 * Why use it in Education?
 * Need more features? Try Snagit
 * $49.95 -- worth it for teacher machine

Assigning Work in the Digital Space

 * Sample Assignment Sheet
 * File Names REALLY Matter
 * Research Project
 * BIG Idea -- Don't ask them to write anything you have not written yourself
 * Preparing for the SAT

Feedback -- Screencast and Other

 * Provide them with Fantastic Feedback!
 * Days Like This...
 * Where do I host (store) the screencasts?
 * What students think -- and examples!

Students Using Screencast Software to Demonstrate Understanding

 * Talking about the text (an alternative to writing)

Student Blogging

 * 20 Reasons Why Students Should Blog
 * 14 Steps to Meaningful Student Blogging
 * Options
 * Kidblog
 * Edublogs
 * Wordpress (may require cooperation from your Director of Technology -- but worth it, in my opinion)