On Saturday I will be participating in the first of four Saturday sessions focused on Digital Literacy. I am excited for the opportunity to continue connecting with other educators as we untangle this wonderful web of technology. In preparation for our session on Saturday the Digital Literacy group has been reading National Writing Project's Because Digital Writing Matters. The collaboration with TLC, the SMWP's Digital Literacy Group that will meet on Saturday, and the book are all shedding light on the points at which meaningful learning and technology intersect. However, in our haste to integrate the newest/coolest/most essential digital tools in our classrooms it becomes easy to lose sight of the end goal. What helps facilitate students’ growth as writers, thinkers, inquirers, and problem solvers? I came across an interesting quote from Because Digital Writing Matters that frames this years' work with TLC very nicely:
"When we think back on the experiences that really led to powerful learning for us, they have the same characteristics we advocate for students, including an emphasis on real engagement. But sometimes we takes such a serious and instrumental approach to professional development that we forget, or even suppress, the need we all have to play and experiment as we're learning something new. It seems counterintuitive, sometimes, for busy people like teachers to slow down, play, and experiment, but the insights we learn when we do are what help us teach for depth understanding" Elyse Eidman-Aadahl convening Digital Is.
That's a good quote and good to reflect on. So many times in planning meetings or professional development we (I) focus on the goal or end product. But as I've learned from our meetings this year, is that by meeting, talking, sharing, and playing we are being productive. Thanks for the reminder.
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