What’s Tech Got to Do with It? Using Online Platforms and Digital Technologies to Integrate More Writing in your Courses
This web resource was developed for faculty
across the curriculum who are interested in
integrating more writing in their courses and exploring different technologies to help them with that initiative.
To help faculty make pedagogy-first technology decisions, this website includes resources on the history of instructional technologies, the principles of digital pedagogy, suggested platforms and technologies for the classroom, and important scholarship and online resources for more information on incorporating technology in the classroom.
BRINGING DIGITAL PEDAGOGY
INTO FOCUS
Successful educators often rely on critical reflection to ensure continued growth in their profession. They take a moment to ask themselves what are the realities of the world around me, what do I want to accomplish, and what do my students need from me to achieve those outcomes? These successful educators ask themselves these questions and avail themselves of the voices, touchstones, and expertise within their community. This website provides opportunities for both critical reflection and community collaboration.
What Do You See?
“The most specific thing that educators can first do is something general. The first need is to become aware of the kind of world in which we live; to survey its forces; to see the opposition in forces that are contending for mastery; to make up one’s mind which of these forces come from a past that the world in its potential powers has outlived and which are indicative of a better and happier future. The teacher who has made up his mind on these points will have little difficulty in discovering for himself what specific things are needed in order to put into execution the decisions he has arrived at.”
John Dewey, “The Teacher and His World”
What Do YOU Think About It?
"The issues about how to use the computer in education reflect deeper issues of educational theory and philosophy. Long before computers, educators were split on the question of education as learning facts and skills versus education as personal development. The computer sharpens these existing cleavages in educational theory. Yet even these debates are reflections of still larger issues, issues of social theory and social philosophy. What kind of people, what kind of citizens, do we want? Do we want empowered individuals who will feel the power to make their own decisions and to shape their lives? Or do we prefer citizens who will accept the discipline of following the instructions and the programs that are set up for them by others?"
Seymour Papert on Technocentrism and Education
What Do Students Need?
“where writing once meant print text—black marks on white paper, left to right and top to bottom—today ‘writing’ is in full Technicolor; it is nonlinear and alive with sounds, voices, and images of all kinds”
Andrea Lunsford, Writing Matters
A digital imperative for teaching "immerses students in analyzing digital media, in exploring the world beyond the classroom, in crafting digital personae, and in creating new and emerging definitions of civic literacy”
J. Elizabeth Clark, "The Digital Imperative"
TECH & WRITING
WHAT TO EXPECT
Click on content icons to go directly to page.
TECH & WRITING HOME
A brief introduction of the primary aims of the teaching thoughtfully with technology and writing website. Includes the contents of the website and a critical framework for addressing those contents.
DIGITAL PEDAOGY
The primary principles and guiding frameworks of critical digital pedagogy or teaching thoughtfully with technology are included as well as practical classroom technology praxis.
SHARE
Serves as the primary space for workshop participants to share their thoughts and activities for technology use in the classroom. There are multiple avenues for participation and crowdsourcing of information.
ED TECH HISTORY
A brief look at the significant trends and events related to educational technologies and technology-mediated classroom instruction practices.
TECH IN USE
Helpful guide for selecting various technologies or platforms for instructional use. Organized by use, there are multiple lists of various technologies with resources and uses.
PRAXIS
A variety of useful strategies and frameworks to enact the principles of digital pedagogy in the classroom. There is also a collection of assessment best practices.