Professional Piece

Creating in Digital Space

What does it mean to be a 21^st Century Learner? This is a question that has been on my mind since I traveled to the Aspen Ideas Festival during the summer of 2010. During that time, I heard the phrase 21^st Century Learner tossed around by presenters and attendees. Many of the presenters I conversed with resonated the same theme, “Teaching as we know it is already outdated.” I wanted to try and understand this more. I talked with Dr. Howard Gardner, Sir Ken Robinson, justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Evan Williams and Biz Stone (founders of Twitter), and Fred Swaniker (founder of ALA African Leadership Academy). All of these people asked me in some form, “How are you changing?” I was not really sure. I attended multiple plenary sessions, heard from some giant personalities (Bill Gates, Jeffry Katzenburg) and some who were not so giant. In one particular session I encountered an educator that changed me as a teacher forever.

            I sat in a session presented by Dr. Mimi Ito. She had recently finished a three year study and began a lecture circuit to promote her findings and a new book. Also, she participated in a video series for PBS and some other short videos for the MacArthur Foundation. Her session made me realize that I was not changing, only casually shifting my teaching. Leaving the session I realized I need to fundamentally change my approach. Dr. Ito and Connie Yowell (Director of Education, The MacArthur Foundation) both talked to me about how to create change. The first step was to educate myself about the changes in technology in my area of expertise. Aspen changed my idea of teaching forever. But I got back to Springfield and I wondered how I could start the change?

            The idea of change pushed me to seek new frontiers in teaching. As a result, I joined the Ozarks Writing Project, a site of the National Writing Project at Missouri State University and started taking graduate classes toward a MS. Ed. in English Education. This past summer, I attended the OWP’s Digital Writing Institute. This helped me to figure out how to get my classes working with digital writing. Specifically, I decided to try using wiki’s in the classroom. When I ask students if they know what a “wiki” is they often ask if it’s some form of Hawaiian shirt. Wiki.com describes a wiki as “a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser.” A relatable definition is that students have a tool in my class to create digital writing. Digital writing can be defined in three broad ways. First, digital writing is writing and responding to emails, blogs, Twitter, and social network sites like Facebook. Secondly, digital writing is creating shared text using web-based tools like Google docs to make collaboratively co-authored documents. A third use is composing multimedia, podcasts, digital stories, or Prezis. These digital writings fuse audio, video, text and textual representations into one type of document that students can use to communicate in multiple formats for multiple audiences. All of the uses are text based. 

            The students enrolled in my Language Arts classes were all given a username and password to access http://www.wikispaces.com. No email is needed to register. They don’t give their names to the site. Once they log on they are directed to the space I created for their specific class. Only the members that I allow are able to create in this space. Students create a page that they title using their first and last names. This enables them to access the site from any computer or smart device that allows internet browsing. The site eliminates the need for a memory stick when saving computer generated projects.  Parents can also see their students work (but cannot edit or comment). A running record of all the items created by the multiple users is available to me at all times. No student can edit without there being a record or timeline of their saved work. The wiki space may also be used for students when they are outside of school. Some choose to use it as a platform to save work so they can access it anywhere, anytime. There is no longer a need for a memory stick. More than that however, the students are introduced to a new format for creating. The pencil to paper disappears and a new modalities fill in the gaps. Students are now able to edit each others work, they can share on a large scale, and creativity takes a new role as they are re-thinking what writing is.

            This first quarter has proved to me, that to become a 21^st Century teacher, I have to change my approach. The wiki space has replaced pen and paper. This has caused a change that I see in the students. Their sense of purpose as writers has shifted to a more intrinsic motivation. They have been able to compose with authentic audience in mind. The materials that I have asked them to generate become genuine assessment pieces for me. The wiki space is an active portfolio that enables students to do the following:

Ø      Constant access to their work

Ø      Ability to share with students

Ø      A place to showcase their pieces

Ø      Re-think what writing can do

Ø      Show their progression in their writing

 

 

Kyle Wallace

English Language Arts

Central High School